Feeling peachy? Here’s where to buy the juicy summer fruit in central Kentucky

Peach season is in full swing, and there’s no shortage of the juicy summer fruit in and around Lexington.

Here’s a list of some of the spots to find fresh peaches in central Kentucky.

The Peach Truck

The beloved, cross-country Peach Truck will be traveling through the area this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, June 17-19, bringing tree-ripened peaches freshly harvested from Southern orchards.

People in Lexington can find the bright orange trucks parked around town throughout the week, including at the West Lexington Peddlers Mall from 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Wednesday, and at Fayette Mall from 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Friday.

Here’s the full list of stops in the Lexington area:

Customers are encouraged to pre-order peaches before the tour by selecting products and pickup location on the Peach Truck website.

A 12-pound box costs $40, and a 25-pound box costs $55. The Tour Special bundle includes 50 pounds of peaches and two bags of pecans for $120.

Pre-orders for Wednesday’s stops are closed, but will be available for Thursday and Friday up to three days before each stop. For those who can’t pre-order in time, there will be limited walk-up availability. Alternatively, the Peach Truck offers home delivery starting next week.

Established by Nashville residents Jessica and Stephen Rose in 2012 to spread Georgian summertime traditions, the Peach Truck tours annually and routinely stops in Lexington. It will be back next month July 13-14, July 22 and July 30.

Eckert’s Pick-Your-Own Peaches

Seventh-generation family farm Eckert’s Orchard, located in Versailles, lets visitors pick their own peaches from mid-June to early August.

To participate, field access tickets can be purchased online for $5 per child between the ages of two and 13, and $3 per adult aged 14 and up. Hand-picked peaches cost an additional $2.99 per pound.

Eckert’s Orchard offers pick-your-own from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

In June and July, guests can also enjoy the following peach-themed events, according to an Eckert’s press release:

Storytime in the Peach Orchard (June 24, 10–11 a.m.): Interactive stories, activities and orchard fun designed especially for kids.

Peach Party (June 27 & 28, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.): A full day of peach-themed fun featuring live music, family activities, seasonal treats and Pick-Your-Own Peaches at the orchard.

Peaches & Poses (June 27, 9:30–10:30 a.m.): Relaxing outdoor yoga experience surrounded by peach trees and scenic orchard views before a farm tour.

Peach Jam Class (July 14 and 21, 6:30–7:30 p.m.): Hands-on instruction for making homemade peach jam, including tips and techniques for preserving fresh summer peaches.

Megan Fields, farm manager at Eckert’s in Versailles, said the orchard is among the few farms in central Kentucky offering pick-your-own peaches and one of the few farms in the region growing peaches at all.

“Peaches are really uncommonly grown in Kentucky because they’re hard to grow,” Fields said. “Everybody thinks of Georgia when they think of peaches, but the Eckerts are the largest peach grower in the Midwest. They’re a fun, sweet fruit that’s beautiful hanging on the trees.”

She emphasized the appeal of customers getting to pick out their own produce.

“People really want to know where their food comes from. It’s something different — it’s not the movies, it’s not electronics,” Fields said. “You get to see the beauty of the farm, meet the folks who grow the fruit and go home with a quality product.”

Local farmers markets

Lexington offers multiple farmers markets where customers can purchase local produce, including peaches.

The Lexington Farmers Market, held multiple times per week, year-round, and the Chevy Chase Farmers Market, held on Wednesdays during the summer at 200 Colony Blvd., are popular options. The Lexington Farmers Market’s complete schedule, including locations, dates and times, can be found on its website.

Neighborhood Farmacy Markets

For a cooler way to enjoy peach season, shoppers can also pick up Nice Cream’s “Life’s A Peach” vegan ice cream from Black Soil KY’s Neighborhood Farmacy Markets.

Available in the frozen section throughout June and engineered by chemist Jerald Smith, this sweet treat combines almond or oat milk infused with coconut cream and peaches, according to the Farmacy’s Instagram post.

The Neighborhood Farmacy Markets began last year with a mission to connect the community with farm fresh, locally grown goods at a relatively low cost, its website says.

The Neighborhood Farmacy Markets are located at 820 Lane Allen Rd., Suite 176, and 760 Florence Ave., open Wednesday through Friday from 2 p.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m.–6 p.m.