If you’ve ever seen a Georgia license plate, grabbed a peach at an Atlanta farmers market, or cheered at a Braves game, you’ve probably noticed one thing: peaches are everywhere.
Roadside stands, gift shops, and even the state’s official nickname proudly proclaim Georgia as “The Peach State.” But here’s the surprising part: Georgia isn’t even the top peach-producing state in the U.S. anymore. So how did this fruity nickname stick?
It Started in the 1800s – And It Wasn’t an Accident
The peach love affair began in the mid-19th century. After the Civil War and the devastating boll weevil infestation that crippled cotton crops, Georgia farmers needed a new cash crop.
Enter the peach. The Middle Georgia region around Fort Valley and Macon turned out to have nearly perfect conditions: sandy loam soil, moderate winters, and just enough chill hours for peach trees to thrive.
By the 1850s, a man named Prosper Berckmans (yes, the same family behind Augusta National’s famous nursery) was already importing and cultivating peach varieties.
Prosper Berckmans, circa 1850s.
Then, in the 1870s, Samuel Rumph of Marshallville developed the famous Elberta peach – a large, juicy, freestone variety that shipped beautifully on the expanding railroad network. Suddenly, Georgia peaches were showing up in New York, Chicago, and beyond.
At its peak in the 1920s, Georgia grew more peaches than any other state and was shipping over 8 million baskets a year.
Marketing Genius Turned Fruit Into Identity
Georgia’s agricultural leaders and railroad companies knew they had a gold mine (or peach mine?). They aggressively marketed “Georgia peaches” as the sweetest, juiciest in the country. Fancy labels, colorful crate art, and even refrigerated rail cars branded with peach imagery flooded the nation.
The nickname “Peach State” started appearing in newspapers and travel brochures as early as the 1930s, and in 1995 the state legislature made it official by adopting peach-themed license plates.
The Decline – And Why the Nickname Stayed Anyway
Here’s the twist: peach production in Georgia has dropped dramatically since the 20th century. Urban sprawl, labor costs, and competition from California (which now grows about 70% of America’s fresh peaches) took their toll.
Today, South Carolina actually produces more peaches than Georgia most years.
Yet the nickname never left. Why? Because by the time production declined, “The Peach State” had become part of Georgia’s soul. It’s on highway welcome signs, in school song, the , and baked into local pride.
What States Produce the Most Peaches?
| Rank | State | Production (1,000 tons, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 418 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 70 |
| 3 | Georgia | 25 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 22 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 13 |
The peach represents a golden era of Georgia agriculture and a taste that people still swear is unmatched.
Where to Taste the Legend Today
Want the real thing? Head to middle Georgia in June and July:
- Dickey Farms in Musella (since 1897 – claims to be the oldest continuously operating peach packing house in the state)
- Pearson Farm in Fort Valley (five generations of peach growing)
- Lane Southern Orchards near Macon (peach ice cream that will ruin all other ice cream for you)
- The Peach Outlet in Byron (for every peach jelly, salsa, and candle imaginable)
So next time someone asks why Georgia is the Peach State, you can tell them: It’s not because we grow the most anymore. It’s because, for a shining moment, we grew the best – and we never let the world forget it.
Georgia: Where the peaches are fewer, but the pride is still 100% juicy. 🍑
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