Your Favorite Stone Fruit May Be In Short Supply This Summer

The news isn’t all peachy-keen—but it isn’t the pits, either.

One of the most satisfying parts of summer has got to be biting into a ripe, juicy peach. But if you’re used to buying them by the crate and making big batches of peach cobbler, we have some troubling news. After fan-favorite peach purveyor The Peach Truck—which goes on a cross-country tour with their Georgia peaches and ships nationwide—announced they had a crop shortage due to a late frost, people began asking if there will be an all-out peach shortage this summer. Naturally, we had to get to the bottom of the stone fruit frenzy.

Will There Be a Peach Shortage This Summer?

The long and short answer? Yes—but not all peaches. The Nashville-based Peach Truck said they had the “smallest crop in our 11-year history,” and that there will be, “far fewer locations with far less peaches.” But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get your hands on their prized peaches or other wonderful farms’ fruit.

In spite of its nickname of “The Peach State,” Georgia is actually not the top producer of peaches—that title goes to California, followed by South Carolina and then Georgia, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This year, Georgia “lost more than 90 percent of this year’s crop after abnormally warm weather this winter and a late-season freeze,” Dario Chavez, an associate professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, explained to CNN.

On an episode of NPR’s All Things Considered, Lawton Pearson of Pearson Farm in Fort Valley, Georgia, shared that the last time things were this bad was 1955. “I didn't see it. I wasn't alive. My dad was only 6. My grandfather picked two peaches, and they went to California for the summer,” he shared.

This year's crop isn’t as dire as two measly peaches, but Pearson did add, “I don't think you'll see Georgia peaches in a grocery store.” Local Georgia residents will have the best luck getting those. On the plus side, a smaller crop means those peaches still on trees will be getting more sun, water, and nutrients than usual, resulting in peaches that are “huge, and sweeter” than normal, according to Pearson.

So…is there really a peach shortage this summer? In Georgia, definitely. In South Carolina, maybe—their crop was just a bit thinner than normal, and not as catastrophically affected by weather. And in California, no dramatic changes have been reported. So all in all, it depends on where you live and where you usually buy your peaches, but you'll likely still be able to get your hands on the fuzzy fruit.

But, if you do find yourself in a dire peach state, here are four of our favorite recipe ideas to stretch your stone fruit:

Preserved Peak Peaches: With a dozen peaches, you can make 8 cups (that’s 64 servings!) of peach preserves. That will quell your cravings well beyond the summer.

Fruit Salsa: Use strawberries, kiwis, or other fruit to stretch a smaller amount of peaches for a quick-and-easy fresh salsa that’s great for topping grilled pork chops, fish, or chicken.

Pie in the Sky: Chef John’s peach pie recipe uses 3 pounds of peaches, but at about 3 to 4 peaches per pound, that’s only about 9 peaches! So bake yourself a perfect pie and freeze slices individually wrapped for summer freshness all year long.

Peach Caprese: Zhuzh up your usual Caprese Salad with a mix of peaches and tomatoes. The peaches perfectly complement peak summer tomatoes, highlighting their natural sweetness. Just be sure to add extra cheese, please.