Lane Southern Orchards

About Lane Southern Orchards

Since 1908, Lane Southern Orchards has been growing peaches and pecans continuously for over 100 years!

You’ve never really had a peach until you’ve had one from Lane Southern Orchards. Since 1908, we’ve been growing Georgia’s finest peaches and pecans on our sprawling 11,000 acre orchards. If you can’t come in person, shop online to have the best Georgia has to offer delivered right to your door.

Explore The Farm

Our doors are open! Find out more about our farm and join us for tours of the strawberry patch. and even explore our six-acre corn maze in the fall. We think you’ll find that learning is a little sweeter on our farm. There’s always something happening year-round at Lane Southern Orchards, but keep in mind that some tours are seasonal. All that means is y’all might have to come back to see us again!

What You Need To Know

Why Is Georgia Known for Peaches?

If multiple states have a peach season, why are peaches from Georgia so famous? Peaches from Georgia are widely recognized for their superior flavor, appearance and texture. Along with being sweeter and jucier than other peaches, Georgia peaches boast excellent nutritious qualities. Eating Georgia-grown peaches can help people maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.

The quality of Georgia peaches is so remarkable that Georgia’s nickname is the “Peach State.” In 1995, the peach became Georgia’s official state fruit, even though it produces fewer peaches than other peach-growing states. Georgia bears this nickname proudly, featuring a peach on the U.S. Mint’s Georgia quarter. Because of Georgia’s reputation for superior peaches, crowds of people flock to the state’s orchards each season.

How to Tell if Peaches Are Ripe

Going to an orchard, the farmers market or even your local grocer during peach season doesn’t guarantee that all the peaches will be ripe. Help yourself avoid biting into an unripened peach by learning how to identify a perfectly juicy peach. Here are the main characteristics to look for when purchasing peaches:

Skin: A peach’s skin is one of the most reliable ripeness indicators. If you notice wrinkles around the stem of a peach, it means the fruit is ripe and ready to eat. The wrinkles show that water has begun evaporating from the peach, intensifying the peach’s sweetness and bringing it to peak flavor.
Color: Ideally, you want your peach to have a deep, golden yellow color. Steer clear of any peaches with hints of green, which means it’s under-ripe, or a red blush resulting from sun exposure.
Touch: Select peaches that are soft to the touch if you want a delightfully drippy, sweet peach eating experience.
Scent: Search for peaches that smell sweet. If a peach has no aroma, it won’t taste as good as a sweetly-scented peach.

Best Types of Peaches

Sweet, juicy peaches are part of what makes summertime so special. There’s nothing like taking the first bite of a fresh Georgia peach as the tangy juice drips down your fingers. Peaches are delicious on their own, but they’re also perfect for cooking, baking, canning and preserving.

The best recipes for this fruit depend on the variety of peaches you choose. Over 300 types of peaches grow in the U.S., and each one has a unique flavor and texture. Understanding the differences can help you choose the best local peaches to showcase in your favorite recipes.