Our Peach Varieties
Sweet, fragrant, and full of summer sunshine, our Okanagan peaches are a seasonal favourite for pies, canning, or just eating fresh.
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Harrow Diamond
Harrow Diamond is the first peach variety available in our Market, typically by mid-July. They are smaller than some of the later varieties, but are incredibly sweet and juicy embracing a welcome taste of summer.
Harrow Diamonds are freestone peaches, and are great for baking, cooking, and of course, fresh eating! They are even good for canning, so if you want to get an early start on filling the pantry, this is the peach for you.
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Early Red Haven
Early Red Havens are one of our earlier peach varieties. They are medium sized, and typically available in mid to late July. They are juicy and sweet with bright colouring.
Early Red Haven Peaches are a clingstone peach, meaning the flesh of the peach clings strongly to the peach pit. These are great for fresh eating or can be used in many delicious dessert recipes.
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Red Haven
Red Havens are highly anticipated every year as a fresh eating and canning peach. They are considered a “semi-freestone” variety, meaning that they come away cleanly from the pit once they are fully ripe, but they are difficult to remove from the pit before they have ripened. Red Havens have fantastic flavour and great sugar content. They are the Davison family’s first choice for canning.
Red Haven Peaches have a red fuzzy skin and a juicy, vibrant yellow flesh. They are typically available at our farm in late July and are considered a better keeper than other peach varieties.
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Glo Haven
Glo Havens are a large peach variety that are typically available in our market by early August. They are beautiful, boasting golden skin topped with dark red tiger striping. Glo Havens are a freestone variety. This peach has incredible flavour, and is very sweet and juicy, perfect for eating fresh! Glo Havens are also great for baking, freezing, jam making, and canning.
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Crest Haven
Crest Haven peaches are large in size and have a unique deep yellow colouring, partially covered in a slight red blush. They are a freestone peach.
Crest Havens are great for freezing, baking, canning, and most of all, eating fresh. Once fully ripened, they have a very sweet and delicious flavour. These peaches are a later variety, typically, available in our Market in late August and into September.
Try this recipe!
Peach FAQs
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If your journey from our Vernon BC farm to your home or hotel is more than a few minutes, it’s important to keep your peaches cool. Place them in air conditioning rather than the trunk and avoid direct sunlight. Even covering the box with a light sweater protects the fruit from heat. For the best flavor, purchase your peaches right before your trip so they arrive fresh and juicy, perfect for enjoying.
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Once home, carefully remove your peaches from their box and spread them out with the stem side up. Avoid letting them ripen while stacked, as the weight can bruise the bottom layer. Proper care ensures that your Okanagan peaches stay juicy and sweet, making every bite worth the effort. Temperature matters: a warm room ripens them faster, while refrigeration helps them last longer.
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Around the farm, signs remind visitors not to squeeze peaches because this causes bruising. Instead, check the skin near the stem. Green indicates the peach is not ready, while golden yellow or soft orange shows it’s time to eat. A ripe peach also peels easily with a paring knife. Using these tips ensures your peaches taste their best.
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All peaches have pits, but freestone peaches, like Glo Haven and Crest Haven, are varieties where the flesh separates cleanly from the pit. This makes them perfect especially for canning, but also for baking, and enjoying fresh without wasting any fruit.
Semi-freestone peaches, like Red Haven (The Davison’s family’s favourite canning peach) release easily only when fully ripe.
Clingstone peaches, like Early Sunrise and Early Red Haven, on the other hand, cling tightly to the pit and are especially sweet for fresh eating.
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Freestone and semi-freestone peaches are ideal for canning. At Davison orchards you can find the following canning varieties of peaches: Red Haven, Glo Haven and Crest Haven.
Early Red Haven and Early Sunrise are a clingstone variety and is best enjoyed fresh.The most important factor for canning is ripeness. Most peaches need 5–7 days after purchase to reach full flavor and sweetness before they are ready to preserve.
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Peaches packed to travel are placed in a box with a lid so they can be safely stacked during your road trip. Slightly greener peaches are chosen for durability. Keep them cool and out of sunlight, and unpack within 1–3 days, spreading them out so the top layer doesn’t bruise the bottom. These travel-ready peaches are perfect for visitors exploring Vernon BC or the Okanagan Valley. Ask to our team members at the Produce Area that you want your peaches packed to travel!
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We let our peaches ripen on the trees for maximum flavor while still selling them firm-ripe. After purchase, peaches are usually ready to eat in 2–3 days and fully ripe for canning in 5–7 days. Picking peaches at the right stage ensures your Okanagan orchard fruit travels safely and tastes incredible at home.
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Peaches require a little TLC (Tender Loving Care), but the results are amazing. Well-ripened peaches are juicy, fragrant, and sweet, a true taste of summer in Vernon, BC! Following these tips lets locals and visitors enjoy the best fresh orchard peaches from Davison Orchards and make the most of their Okanagan farm experience.
