Sweet, juicy peaches are a summertime treat. Have you ever wondered how they go from the tree to table?

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In the South, peach harvest typically begins around the middle of May and goes through the end of August. First, they’re picked by hand from the trees, then immediately rinsed in cold water to stop any further ripening. This process makes sure the peaches aren’t overripe when they reach the consumer.

SEE MORE: Peachy Keen at Jones Orchard

The next day, the peaches are cleaned, de-fuzzed and sent through graders that remove leaves and cull the least desirable fruit. The remaining peaches are sorted by an electric sizer.

Finally, the fruit is packed and shipped in refrigerated trucks to arrive in retail stores within three days of picking.

For tasty ways to use your fresh peaches, visit tnhomeandfarm.com/peach.