Special pick-yourself peaches ripe in July

Olecranon Peaches growing in the demonstration base of the Zhuhai Agricultural Wonder in Qianshan should ripen in early or mid-July, when visitors will be allowed to pick and purchase their choices.

The Olecranon Peach from Lianping County, Heyuan City of Guangdong Province, earned the name from its eagle-mouth shape. Weighing between 130 and 160 grams each with bright color, thin peel, and crisp and juicy flesh, the peach is known as the most popular “green fruit” in Guangdong. It is hailed as the “peach of the peaches” by agricultural experts.

Zhuhai Agricultural Wonder imported the species from Lianping early last year, endeavoring to become a first demonstration base for farming the peach in Zhuhai and the Pearl River Delta.

Olecranon Peaches in Zhuhai Agricultural Wonder [Photo by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

The peach was planted on a small scale and therefore the harvest was small. Nonetheless, grafted seedlings were planted, and growing veterans were invited from Lianping. With abundant rainfall and careful cultivation, along with the application of traditional green farming methods, organic fertilizers, zero pesticides, and manual weeding, the peach is headed for a great harvest this year, according to a technician.

The peaches are expected to be ripe for picking at the beginning of July, and the fruit is due for market in the middle of the month. The pick-your-own price may be set at about 20 yuan ($3) per kilogram.

The peach turned out to be ideal for enriching the landscape of Agricultural Wonder and increasing the variety of the city’s fruit, a spokesperson with the scenic spot said. The peach planting will be extended to farmers for mass production once techniques are stabilized, he added.