Peaches: Smaller, sweeter, quicker harvest
By Russ Parsons, Los Angeles Times
Peaches and nectarines are two of the most glorious prizes of summer, but this year you’d better grab them while you can. Blink and you might miss your favorites.
Because of the warm winter we experienced — the winter that wasn’t — harvests are much smaller than usual and are coming much earlier. Some farmers I’ve talked to say they’ll be winding up their picking within the next two weeks — that’s mid-July for a season that for some varieties normally can last until October.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, this year’s peach and nectarine crop is running much smaller than normal. As compensation, the fruit is exceptionally sweet.