peaches

Before Peaches, Watermelons Ruled in Parker County

July 7, 2023 | By Brandi Addison

Heading into the second weekend of July, residents from all over Parker County brace themselves as their historic square transforms into a vibrant jubilee celebrating all things peach.

Don’t Miss Out on Great Early Season Peaches This Year

May 26, 2023 | By John O. Lumpkin

Amid Drought, the Texas Peach Crop Is Arriving Later—and Sweeter—Than Usual

August 2, 2022 | By John Lumpkin

Better late than never. That sums up the Texas peach crop in 2022. After a slow start this summer, succulent freestones are hitting the shelves of family-owned fruit stands throughout the state in ample supplies that may last through September.

New Community Cookbook Celebrates Fredericksburg’s Food Heritage

August 17, 2021 | By June Naylor

Dozens upon dozens of local families and individuals contributed recipes handed down through generations, and a team of 15 Gillespie Country Historical Society volunteers compiled the works—including numerous family stories, anecdotes, and nuggets of history—to round out a 200-page book.

Everything Is Peachy With the Return of the Parker County Peach Festival

July 8, 2021 | By Amanda Ogle

Stroll through Weatherford’s downtown square on the second weekend in July, and you’ll notice things are quite peachy.

Texas Peach Growers See a Bountiful Crop Despite the February Freeze

June 7, 2021 | By John Lumpkin

Fredericksburg Peach Growers Persevere Through Changing Times

May 22, 2021 | By Pam LeBlanc

Long before Fredericksburg became the wine capital of Texas, people knew the Hill Country town with German roots for its peaches.

Weatherford Shifts Annual Parker County Peach Festival to Parker County Peach Week

July 3, 2020 | By Amanda Ogle

This year’s festival was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, but that doesn’t mean the city will stop celebrating its summer bounty. Instead of a one-day affair, Weatherford is hosting an entire week of smaller celebrations from July 11 to 18.

Hye Market’s Peach Puree and Peach Bellini Recipe

May 16, 2019 | By John Lumpkin

Matt Church is chef at the historic Hye Market in Hye, between Stonewall and Johnson City—in the heart of Texas Hill Country peach orchards.

How to Make the Most of Texas Peach Season

May 15, 2019 | By

As summer begins, so will annual pilgrimages to roadside stands and farmers markets where popular varieties of Texas’ succulent freestone peaches arrive in successive waves through Labor Day. Those peaches set a national standard for sweet-ness, and—here’s the really good news—they are mostly reserved for Texans.

Nelda Vogel’s Dessert Peach Enchiladas and Peach Pie Recipes

May 14, 2019 | By John Lumpkin

Nelda Vogel and the late George Vogel founded Vogel Orchards in Stonewall. Their son Jamey and his wife, Terri, now manage the orchards, along with the orchards’ roadside stand on U.S. 290. Nelda Vogel remains involved in the operation.

After a Freeze Scare, Texas Peach Season is Almost Ready—and Plentiful

May 9, 2019 | By John Lumpkin

Breaking news from Texas Peach Country: This year’s harvest is poised to be plentiful.

“Oh yeah, there are lots of peaches out there—a lot more than I thought there would be,” says Gary Hutton of Hutton Farms west of Weatherford, referring to the hard freeze that occurred in early March of this year. “They pulled through.” he says. “I’ve got some as big as my thumb.”

Hye Market’s Fermented Peach Salsa Recipe

May 9, 2019 | By John Lumpkin

Matt Church is chef at the historic Hye Market in Hye, between Stonewall and Johnson City—in the heart of Texas Hill Country peach orchards.

Cabernet Grill’s Vogel Orchard Peach Crisp Recipe

May 2, 2019 | By

Cabernet Grill’s peach crisp combines Vogel Orchard peaches with fragrant lavender

Where and When to Find Peaches in Texas This Year

May 1, 2019 | By Laurel Miller

When is peach season this year? It’s always a bit fuzzy, so visit farm websites for opening dates and daily harvest updates before you hit the road. Generally,peaches are available May-September, with traditional freestone varieties appearing late June and early July, but offerings are subject to change.

Where to Pick the Best Texas Produce for Canning

March 29, 2019 | By Susan L. Ebert

As a child, one of the first things I did upon arriving at my Mamaw Grace and Papaw Dorsey’s rambling fieldstone farmhouse in Kentucky was to open the cellar door off the main dining room. Slowly, I crept down the wooden stairs, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dim light. A single shaft of sunlight from the cellar window illuminated the far stone wall—or what would have been the wall had it not been obscured from floor to rafters by glistening glass-encased riches in every color of the rainbow.

A Weekend in Weatherford

February 13, 2018 | By Amanda Ogle

For a small-town girl like me, big-city living can feel a bit stuffy. That’s why I call Weatherford home: It’s far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Dallas-Fort Worth to evoke that small-town feel, yet close enough for the occasional “big city” dinner. 

Parker County Peach Festival

May 1, 2017 | By

Homemade peach cobbler, peach ice cream, peach juleps, peach tea—you can find it all at the Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford July 8. The one-day event draws some 35,000 people to the city, named in 1991 by the state legislature as the Peach Capital of Texas, for a taste of summer’s juiciest crop.

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