Brushy Mountain Peaches: A Taste of Summer

Brushy Mountain Peaches: A Taste of Summer

The Brushy Mountains are prime real estate for orchards, and while the acres upon acres of apples get a lot of press, the peaches that fill the trees from June through August are just as much an important part of agricultural life here in Wilkes County. Just ask Gray Faw, whose family has been growing peaches on the brushy mountains for generations.

Faw has taken over the family farm from his grandfather, who at 95 still comes out to the orchard to check on things. The Faw orchard grows 47 different varieties of peaches to keep the harvest coming in at a steady pace throughout the summer months. “We have several varieties of white peaches and yellow peaches, and we even have a few trees of the doughnut peaches that have become popular over the last few years,” Faw says.

For Faw, it really wasn’t a conscious choice to continue on with the family farm. As he says, it’s just in his blood. “When I was a kid, I followed my grandfather around the orchard. I basically grew up out here in it. I guess every little boy is obsessed with tractors, and he let me ride along with him, so I was in love from the start. As I got older I realized I just liked being in the outdoors. I couldn’t wait to get home from school and be out on the farm, outside, up here on the mountain. Being a farmer is not like other jobs, it’s a way of life, and it’s something I love.”

Why the Brushy Mountains

Georgia has a peach on the state’s license plate and South Carolina is so known for its peaches that the town of Gaffney painted a water tower like a peach. But the Brushy Mountains have their own benefits when it comes to playing the peach game.

• Rich Soil.
  Growing peach trees in a rich soil produces fruit with a fuller, sweeter flavor than in the sandy soils to the south. It also helps the trees live a little longer.
   
• Thermal Belt.
  Sure, the region sits at an elevation of 2300 feet. But at night in the spring when the air is calm, the thermal belt that moves through the Brushy Mountains pushes the cold air into the valley, leaving it warmer up on the mountain, protecting the delicate blooms of the trees from freezing temperatures.
   
• Hot, Dry Summers.
  Peaches develop best in hot, dry conditions, which we have plenty of in Wilkes County in July and August!

Celebrate at the Peach Festival

You can find Brushy Mountain peaches at local fruit markets and farmers markets in the area, or by driving up to the farms themselves where you can find roadside stands. Or come out to the Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival in Wilkesboro on July 30. Held annually on the last Saturday of July, this is a great place to try some delicious foods, get to know the history of the Brushy Mountain fruit growers, and load up on peaches!

Vendors: Almost 70 vendors will be set up with arts and crafts and more for sale.

Local artisans: In addition to selling their work, you can watch artists at work.

Food: Sample peaches made into wonderful products from jams to wine, and enjoy a meal at the food trucks.

Hours and Location: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Historic Downtown Wilkesboro