CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/12/96

Georgia Peach Crop Skimpy, but Still Showy

"Are those peaches real?" asked a Nebraska visitor to the Showcase of Southern Agriculture in Centennial Olympic Park.

"Absolutely," answered Butch Ferree, a peach specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service.

"People are so surprised at the size of the peaches because most think the entire crop was wiped out by the cold weather we had in March," Ferree said.

More than 10,000 visitors a day passed through the exhibit. They saw not only peaches but other Georgia crops: Vidalia onions, peanuts, pecans, apples, tobacco, forestry and ornamentals.

But it was a basket of peaches under the peach trees that kept them asking, "Can I have one of those?"

"The peach season for this year is just about over," Ferree said. "We'll have peaches at some farm markets probably for the next month. I feel like a high estimate was about 3 or 4 percent of the crop was saved. We were decimated."

But what Olympic Park visitors see are premier peaches -- crop or no crop.

"We had several varieties on display in the Park," Ferree said. "We had Redglobe, Summergold, Dixieland and Flameprince" (no relation to the Olympic flame).

Having trees in Centennial Olympic Park was no easy feat. Ferree had pampered them since January for their chance to show the world what a Georgia peach tree looks and feels like.

"We dug these trees out of an orchard with a tree spade in January," Ferree said. "We mixed orchard soil with pine bark 50-50 to fill in around the root ball."

The trees were then planted in 3-feet-by-3-feet-by-18-inch plywood containers. They were transplanted to the park in the container and placed in a raised bed of peanut-shell mulch.

"It took some help from above, a few bumps along the road, some close scrutiny and a lot of lucky guesses to get them here," Ferree said. "They look pretty decent."

Could a homeowner use this method for growing a peach tree?

"Absolutely not," Ferree said. "Peaches are super-sensitive to overwatering. That has been our greatest challenge in growing these in containers. It wouldn't work for most homeowners."

Faith Peppers is the director of public affairs with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Butch Ferree
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.