Life’s A Peach: Lane Southern Orchards Opens the Season with an Early Harvest

The season’s sweetest fruit has made its entrance early, and there’s no better time to get that beach-bod ready than by reaching for a ripe, juicy peach. Did you know that adding peaches to your diet reaps several health benefits? Packed with vitamins A, C, E, K—and loaded with antioxidants—peaches offer more than their sweet shape. They aid digestion, support heart health, improve skin, and can help with weight management. Peaches’ low-calorie, high-fiber profile also presents natural sugars as a cleaner alternative to processed sweets.

As the Georgia sun casts its warm, hazy glow over patterned rows of blooming peach trees, Lane Southern Orchards is already enjoying a fruitful summer harvest. Located off I-75 in Fort Valley, Georgia, this family-fun orchard has been a cornerstone of Southern agriculture since 1908, cultivating more than 5,000acres of peaches and 6,000 acres of pecans. Today, their farm, café, and production tours attract over 300,000 visitors annually.

Summer Worth Savoring

This season ripened ahead of schedule thanks to ideal weather conditions, delivering the orchard’s first bounty to the delight of foodies, families and chefs across the Southeast. The early Clingstone varieties—Carored, Krista and Flavorich—are each known for their firm texture, high sugar content and radiant flavor. Though smaller than their Freestone cousins, they’re exceptionally versatile choices for both sweet and savory dishes.

Lane’s peaches move from tree to shelf within 48 hours. That freshness, combined with Georgia’s nutrient-rich red clay soil, gives them their signature form and flavor: bright, robust, juicy and slightly tangy.

While peach desserts (cobblers, crisps, pies) are more prevalent in America’s kitchens, Lane’s is leading a culinary movement that reimagines peaches in unexpected ways—particularly in savory applications.

Tree to Table: Peachy Pairings

Timing of the early harvest couldn’t be better for home cooks and grill masters gearing up for summer gatherings or restaurant chefs serving al-fresco dining. Lane’s early peaches are ideal for grilling: firm enough to hold up to heat, yet juicy enough to release flavor-packed nectar. The caramelization that occurs during grilling enhances the peach’s natural sweetness while adding smoky complexity. 

Seasoned chefs are using peaches to add pizzazz to charcuterie boards with a wide variety of cured meats, cheeses, nuts and grains. Even gourmet pizzas with prosciutto and grilled peaches are making the menu.

To grill peaches, simply cut in half lengthwise, remove the pit, brush with olive oil and place on the grill flesh side down for 2-3 minutes. The charred sweetness pairs perfectly with pork, poultry, seafood and other delicate, even plant-based proteins like tofu or tempeh. Grilling adds smoky, satisfying umami depth to savory dishes such as peach-glazed pork skewers, grilled chicken with peach-jalapeno salsa, or peach BBQ pulled pork sliders on Hawaiian rolls.

Go the extra mile and pair savory-smoky-sweet dishes with peach iced tea or a peach-infused local craft beer for full-on summer flavor.

Local Orchard to Logical Opportunity

Lane’s peach season runs from May through August. With over 35 different varieties harvested throughout summer, each week brings a new flavor profile. Early Clingstones make way for Freestones in July and August—perfect for slicing, grilling, baking, canning, freezing, or eating fresh.

“Life’s a Peach” events at the orchard make it lively for families to enjoy summertime play days with farm-themed activities, shop their market, and celebrate the 4th of July. Visitors can also chill with farm-to-table meals at Lane’s café, shop for locally made peach preserves, pecan treats, and peach-themed gifts. Or take the tour to watch peaches move from orchard bins to market-ready boxes.

Hungry-for-more enthusiasts can find downloadable peach recipes on Lane’s website, plus quick cooking reels, grill hacks, and behind-the-scenes harvest footage on Instagram and TikTok. The goal is for Lane’s to expand the reach of the peach and to showcase their summer shine in traditional and more modern dishes.

At the core of this culinary evolution is the peach itself—sweet, sun-ripened, firm—proving its value as a versatile “supporting character” in the kitchen pantry. Lane Southern Orchards invites you to bite into bold. Sweet or savory, grilled or glazed, in your hand or on your plate — life’s a peach.