When we think of fresh, ripe, sun-kissed peaches, most picture Georgia’s roadside produce stands and orchards. And for good reason — the state produces more than 130 million pounds of the fuzzy fruit each year and was the first major exporter to the nation in the mid-1800s. But there’s another town that has dubbed itself the peach capital of the world: Johnston, South Carolina. While you may not have heard of the unassuming town that houses just over 2,500 residents, it has quietly risen to be a top fruit producer in the state, growing three times more peaches than the state of Georgia.
The town of Johnston is a peach powerhouse due to its unique location. The destination is nestled in the Ridge region, a 30-mile stretch of narrow plateau land that’s fertile with sand and clay deposits, where peach trees thrive. The state boasts 216 days of sunshine and a long growing season, ideal for over 40 varieties of stone fruit.
While the Georgia peach is known nationwide, Johnston has carved out a small tourism niche to celebrate their orchards and gain more notoriety. Every spring, the town’s Main Street turns into a spectacle with the Johnston Peach Blossom Festival. In addition to sampling fresh fruits, festival-goers can partake in rides, games, and arts and crafts. The town’s welcome sign also features a charming hand-painted stone fruit, with the slogan “Peach Capital of the World” arched in big, bold lettering, letting visitors know they’re in the right spot to grab fresh or canned peaches.
Primary peach cultivators in Johnston, South Carolina
Big Smile Premium Peaches, a multigenerational orchard in operation for over 90 years, is a major producer of the golden fruit in Johnston, and the family farm spans more than 3,500 acres. The organization is capable of processing and selling enormous volumes of fruit, and distributes 25 million pounds per year during harvest season. You won’t find monocrops here, as Big Smile Peaches grows over 41 different varieties of peaches. The farm also produces thousands of pounds of pecans…