The 1969 N.C. Peach Queen Elizabeth Bynum Hall visits then Gov. Bob Scott, right, and an unidentified man.
Peaches have been a part of North Carolina agriculture for more than a century. Peach production, which is concentrated in Montgomery, Anson, Moore, Cleveland and Alexander counties, accounted for 5,600 tons of peaches in 2008. Growers produced more than 70 varieties. This year also is shaping up to be great for N.C. peaches, and there is a variety of locations to find fresh peaches right now. You may even bump into the current N.C. Peach Queen Madelyn Varner at one of the Peach Day celebrations at your local farmers market, or during the N.C. Peach Festival in Candor this weekend.