Fresh Peaches In Kelowna Don-O-Ray Farms

There are few better signs of summer in the Okanagan than the first ripe peach of the season. Sweet, golden, and so full of juice you have to lean over the sink to eat it, a good peach is one of the great pleasures of a Kelowna summer, and it is almost impossible to fake. You either get a fresh, ripe one or a hard, flavourless disappointment, and most grocery store peaches fall squarely in the second camp.

If you have been searching for fresh Okanagan peaches in Kelowna, local peaches, or a farm market in Kelowna stocking real summer fruit, Don-O-Ray Farms has sweet, locally grown peaches in stock at 3443 Benvoulin Road in the Lower Mission.

When Are Peaches in Season in Kelowna?

Peach season in the Okanagan typically runs from mid-summer into early fall, with the fruit usually at its peak from mid-July onward. Exact timing shifts a little from year to year depending on the weather, but the warm days and cool nights of an Okanagan summer give local peaches the deep, honeyed sweetness the region is known for.

You will find a range of peaches through the season, from white-fleshed to yellow-fleshed, and from smaller clingstones to large freestones. We restock our produce through the day, so the peaches you carry home from our farm market in Kelowna are fragrant and ready to eat rather than fading in the back.

The Health Benefits of Fresh Peaches

How to Pick a Ripe Peach

You can choose a great peach with your nose as much as your eyes. A ripe one is fragrant right at the stem, with a sweet perfume that a flavourless peach simply will not have. Look for a warm golden or deep yellow background colour rather than a green tinge, since green means it was picked underripe and will never fully catch up. The fruit should give slightly to gentle pressure along its shoulders, soft but not bruised or wrinkled, with smooth, unblemished skin.

How to Peel Peaches

Peeling peaches is easy once you know the technique, and it makes quick work of prepping them for pies, jams, and cobblers.

1. Start with ripe peaches. If you are using frozen ones, thaw them first.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut a shallow “x” in the bottom of each peach.
3. Submerge the peaches in boiling water for about one minute.
4. Lift them out and plunge them into an ice bath for a few minutes to cool.
5. Peel back the skin, which should now slip off easily.

Delicious Ways to Enjoy Don-O-Ray Farm Peaches

The beauty of a great peach is how little it asks of you. Eating one plain, with juice running everywhere, is honestly hard to beat. But peaches are one of the most versatile fruits of the season, and they reward a little imagination.

Slice them over yogurt, oatmeal, or a stack of pancakes in the morning. Chop them into green salads or fruit salads, or layer them with arugula, prosciutto, and a soft cheese. Grill halves cut-side down with a sprinkle of sugar or cinnamon until they char and caramelize, then serve them with vanilla ice cream or alongside pork on the barbecue. Bake them into pies, cobblers, crisps, and galettes, or blend them into smoothies, salsa, and iced tea. However you use them, fresh Okanagan peaches are a summer hit.

How to Freeze Peaches

If you want to enjoy that sweet peach flavour long after the season ends, freezing is an easy option.

1. Start with ripe, juicy peaches.
2. Peel them and cut them into slices or wedges.
3. Spread the slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for about two hours.
4. Once frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight or resealable bag so they do not clump.
5. Label the bag with the date and store in the freezer for up to 12 months.

That way a bag of summer is always waiting for your next smoothie or batch of jam.

Don-O-Ray Farms Peaches Facts and Tips

1. Peaches are one of the few fruits that ripen after they are picked, so if your peaches aren’t quite ripe yet, leave them in a bowl on the counter and check on them daily.
2. To ensure your peaches stay fresh longer, store them in a cool spot away from direct sunlight.
3. The Okanagan is known for its sweet and juicy summer peaches. We have a town named Peachland.
4. Peaches are a low-calorie snack that can help satisfy cravings and keep you full for longer.
5. The dietary fibre in peaches helps to support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
6. The peach is a nutritional powerhouse. Peaches are packed with antioxidants that can help protect the body from free radical damage and reduce the risk of certain illnesses.
7. The peach’s fuzzy exterior protects it from insects, animals, diseases, and harsh weather. This enhances the fruit’s quality and resilience, helping it thrive despite obstacles.
8. The cherry, almond, apricot, plum, and other related fruits belong to the Prunus genus. These fruits are all part of the rose family and share similar characteristics.

One of the most popular peaches we stock through the season is the freestone. As the name suggests, the stone pulls cleanly away from the flesh, which makes them far easier to slice and pit than clingstone varieties. That makes freestone peaches a hassle-free snack and a baker’s best friend, perfect for cobblers, crisps, and pies where you want neat, even slices without fighting the pit. They are juicy, sweet, and full of flavour, whether you eat them fresh or cook them down.

We have Freestone Peaches here at Don-O-Ray Farm

Peach season is one of the best reasons to make Don-O-Ray Farms a regular summer stop. Alongside the peaches you will find a full spread of fresh fruits and vegetables, our Nature’s Kitchen jams, sauces, and baking, and the warm, family-friendly atmosphere that has made us one of the most-loved farms in Kelowna for years.

So before the season slips away, come taste what a peach is supposed to be. Sweet, fragrant, locally grown peaches are waiting at Don-O-Ray Farms, 3443 Benvoulin Road in Kelowna’s Lower Mission. Swing by and grab a basket while they are at their best