One of our favorite things about living in the Hill Country is the thrill of picking our own peaches as they come in season.
From May through August, Texans from all over come to visit local Fredericksburg farms to have the fun experience of picking their own peaches, as well as other delicious fruit. So grab your kids, your partner or some friends, and head out (with a mask at the ready) to enjoy one of Fredericksburg’s greatest annual traditions and a fun-filled afternoon.
1. Behrends
Behrends Orchard offers fresh peaches, berries and vegetables. 4579 US-290 East Fredericksburg, TX 78624. 830-997-44202. Coach’s
Coach’s Country Store offers fresh fruits and vegetables and artisan foods like gourmet canned products, all of which are home grown or handmade. 16619 East US Highway 290, Stonewall, TX 78671. 830-644-26233. Jenschke Orchards
Family owned since 1961, Jenschke Orchards offers 20 varieties of peaches that you can buy by the pound or the truckload! Visitors can purchase picked fruit or pick their own. They also offer ice cream, jams, jellies, canned peaches, strawberries and Christmas trees as winter rolls around. 8381 East US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. 830-997-84224. Engel Orchards
Engel Orchards offers seasonal peaches, plums and a variety of other fruits, herbs and vegetables. Buy canned items such as jams, peaches, pickles and dried fruits and veggies year-round. 9885 US-290 East, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. 830-990-50645. Vogel
Vogel Orchard offers peaches, homemade cobblers, tomatoes, plums, blackberries, watermelons, cantaloupes, and other assorted fresh vegetables, along with homemade peach preserves, peach butter, blackberry jelly, plum jelly, pear preserves, fig preserves and more. 2862 US-290 East, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. 830-644-24046. Das Peach Haus
Fischer & Wieser's Das Peach Haus began as a roadside market for fresh Fredericksburg peaches and now serves as a showroom for hundreds of products. You’ll find fresh-baked peach cobbler, delicious cheese plates, wine and peach cider. Their tasting room can’t be beat! 1406 South US Highway 87, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. 830-997-8969
Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labors
Once you’ve gotten your hands on some peaches, here are some of our favorite recipes for cooking them up, Hill Country style.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Peaches
This recipe is reminiscent of a summer in France with a little Hill Country style thrown in too. The mixture of French countryside herbs works in harmony with the flavor of the pork and the sweetness of the peaches.
This recipe is reminiscent of a summer in France with a little Hill Country style thrown in too. The mixture of French countryside herbs works in harmony with the flavor of the pork and the sweetness of the peaches.
Ingredients:
- 1 pork tenderloin
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence (a mixture of dried herbs typical of the Provence area of France, mixed with basil, rosemary, tarragon, garlic, lavender, marjoram, thyme, and parsley)
- 1 or 2 peaches
Directions:
- Prep the tenderloin by coating in olive oil, sprinkling with salt, and rolling in herbs. Set aside for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Fire up your grill and grill tenderloin until a meat thermometer reads 135 degrees, about 5 minutes on each side.
- Grill peaches for 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Plate tenderloin and peaches together, and sprinkle leftover juice from peaches over the pork.
Whether you prefer homemade or buying your favorite brand at the store, all you need is some peaches and sugar to make vanilla ice cream shine.
- Puree 2 and a half pounds of fresh peaches (peeled, pitted and chopped), with one half cup white sugar in a food processor or blender.
- Mix pureed peaches with 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour over a gallon of ice cream, whether store bought or homemade. To mix well, add a cup or two of whole milk to blend.
This is a great recipe, because it looks impressive and tastes fantastic while requiring minimal effort!
- Let goat cheese sit at room temperature to soften.
- Cut peaches in half along the seam, remove the stone, and drizzle the halves lightly with oil.
- Fire up your grill and place peaches soft side down. Grill for just under 1 minute. Press firmly with tongs to form beautiful grill marks.
- Plate your peaches, and place a generous dollop of goat cheese in the hollow. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
Hill Country Charcuterie Plate
Who doesn’t love a beautiful charcuterie spread? Mix things up a little by making a simple but mouthwatering plate with burrata (a super soft mozzarella), prosciutto, and some Fredericksburg peaches. This combination of textures and flavors is unforgettable.
So grab your kids, your partner, or some friends, and head out (with a mask at the ready) to enjoy one of Fredericksburg’s greatest annual traditions and a fun-filled afternoon!