Tree ripe peaches are extremely perishable and deserve special attention when it comes to care. The peaches should arrive in your hands at varying degrees of ripeness. In a typical box, a few will be very ripe and will be partially bruised from the journey. These are probably the best peaches in the box and should be consumed immediately either over a sink or outside to avoid the sticky mess resulting from the juiciness! Here are a few recommendations that will allow you to get the most satisfaction from our peaches:
If your peaches are wet and sitting in the box, you will want to dry them off right away.
Wet peaches sitting in a cardboard box will quickly become moldy.
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To ripen: leave the peaches in the box (or the box lid) and let them sit on the counter for 24-48 hours. The peaches are picked tree-ripe and need a little time to finish the ripening process. Refrigerating the peaches immediately will negatively affect the ripening process.
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Sort the peaches to find the ripest ones. Remove the lid and check the top layer for peaches that are softer or bruised, separating them from the firmer peaches. If you purchased a full box, remove the foam separator between the top and bottom layers and repeat the process with the bottom layer.
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Refrigerate the softer peaches if they will not be eaten or used right away. Leave the firmer peaches on the countertop or in the box for another 24-48 hours to continue ripening. Once the peaches on the counter have softened, refrigerate them as well to help reduce spoilage.
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If the peaches are sorted properly and refrigerated, they can last 10 or more days. As with any fruit, wash them before consuming.
PROPER PEACH CARE
PROPER PEAR CARE
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The pears are picked green and firm. They will soften and start to turn slightly yellow when they are ready to eat.
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Leave the box with the lid on it to help the ripening process. Do not store the pears in plastic containers or plastic bags. They will not ripen properly and will become mushy.
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The pears will take about a week to ripen while sitting in their box at room temperature. Once the pears begin to turn yellow or they start to have a little squish to them, place them in the refrigerator so they will last longer while being ripe.
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If you keep the pears refrigerated while green, they will take longer to ripen. You can take a few out at a time and let them ripen versus having the entire box ripen at the same time.