Florida Classic Growers of Dundee, FL, has long been known as a premium provider of Florida citrus. But the company was an early entrant in the burgeoning Florida peach deal and is excited about its 2014 crop, according to Vice President of Sales and Marketing Al Finch.

Historically, Florida has not been a significant contributor to the domestic peach deal. But a new variety developed at the University of Florida requires far fewer chill hours to bear fruit. The result is an early season, super sweet peach that can actually ripen on the tree and be in front of consumers in a matter of days.

This is Florida Classic’s fourth year in the peach deal and growth has been dramatic.

Al Finch, Darrel Congdon and Todd Mudger of Florida Classic Growers in Dundee, FL, in their booth at the at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure expo in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Chip Carter) “We actually started shipping commercially in a very small way here in 2011 and last season we shipped almost 300,000 pounds,” Finch said. “We’re looking to ship over 1 million pounds this season. Our acreage has grown year over year — we’re looking at 400 acres and this year and next season we’ll have over 500 in production.”

Harvest began the week of March 24 and volume will increase each week until the deal reaches peak production the week of April 28. “We look to have peaches up to Memorial Day,” Finch said.

Florida’s peach deal fills a niche between the end of the Chilean season and the start of the Georgia and South Carolina deals.

“There’s been a big demand for a true tree-ripened peach and we’ve been able to do that,” Finch said. “Though currently the demand far exceeds the supply, we’ve been very active in growing this new Florida tree-ripened program over the last three years.”

Last season, Florida Classic shipped peaches outside the Sunshine State for the first time. The response led to an increase in shipping to other Southeastern states this year and a plan to continue to expand distribution.

“When the consumer purchases this peach it is tree ripe and ready to eat. The consumer feedback has been outstanding, the peaches are growing in popularity and last season we were able to ship these outside of the state of Florida into other markets and the response has been tremendous,” Finch said. “We’re looking to increase that and many of our customers are ready to get started on the program for this year and expand it from last season.”

Florida peaches are smaller than their cousins elsewhere, but are exceptionally sweet and juicy.

“It’s the eating experience a customer expects when they buy a peach. We’re selling the Florida peach in an eight pound single layer tray and our program is from a 2 1/8 and up; the predominant size range is 2 1/4 to 2 3/8,” Finch said. “We’re picking these peaches typically around eight-nine PSI and a 12 brix; it’s a true tree-ripened peach. We harvest these peaches in totes and we bring them to the packinghouse for chilling. We’re harvesting one day and the next we’re shipping them to our customers and they are reaching the consumer shelf shortly afterwards.”