Discovering NC Agriculture is a year-long series focusing on twelve N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Peaches have a rich history of being grown in North Carolina. At Webb’s Orchard in Lawndale, the tradition of farm raised peaches dates back to the 1920’s. As a new member of our Century Farm Family Program, Webb’s Orchard is a staple in the N.C. peach industry and continues to grow many varieties for customers in Western N.C. and across the state to enjoy.
In 1925, Webb’s Orchard was started by Harvey Webb’s grandfather as a hobby after retirement. “My grandfather bought this land and started the peach orchard as something to do after he retired,” Harvey, current owner of Webb’s Orchard, said. “After the Great Depression, the farm became a way of life for him and the family.” At 16 years of age, Harvey’s dad took over the peach orchard. “We were one of the first peach orchards in the Piedmont of N.C.,” he said. “I’ve been doing this all my life. I learned a lot of lessons while picking and selling peaches with my dad that have stuck with me through the years.” Now 70 years old, Harvey can’t imagine doing anything else other than raising peaches.
Through the years, the Webb family has farmed over 30 acres of peach trees but today has around 10 acres of multiple varieties. “We have about 10 to 12 varieties of peaches here on the farm, both clingstone and free stone,” Harvey said. The season starts for Harvey and his family each January with pruning and planning. “Many people believe peach farming just takes place three months out of the year, but it is actually a year-round job,” Harvey said. Once the trees have been pruned, the blooming process begins. “As soon as the trees start blooming, if it’s a bountiful crop, we have to go through and thin them on a regular basis,” Harvey said. “That means we monitor and space out the fruit on the trees so that they have room to produce more.” Finally, at the end of May, Harvey and his team start to see a harvest of their efforts, starting with the clingstone varieties.
From Red Haven and Wind Blows to Bella Georgia and Contender, Harvey and his family are busy picking various peach varieties from late-May to mid-September each year. All peaches at Webb’s Orchard are hand-picked daily to ensure the highest quality of produce for their customers. “We hand pick everything because it’s safer for the peaches and keeps a better crop,” Harvey said. “When my family and I go out picking, we are looking for color mostly. Ripe peaches will have a red blush color to them, and when looked at in the light, a strong glow. The dullness disappears when a peach is ripe, making it intensify with color.” Although they check all the trees each day, the peaches at the ends of the limbs ripen first, so it is often the best place to start. Once the harvest begins, Harvey and his family are picking peaches seven days a week until it is complete.
Peaches from Webb’s Orchard can be purchased on-site at their farm market stand, which has been there since the farm opened in 1925, or at their Shelby location six days a week. “We sell by the peck and half peck, which basically means by the gallon, as well as quarts,” Harvey said. “We have customers come from all over every year to purchase our peaches, which generates a lot of pride in our family for the work that we put into it.” One of the things that Harvey loves most about selling to customers is the opportunity he has to educate them on peach farming in North Carolina. “We get a lot of questions about how to grow peaches, the nature of peaches, types of peaches, how to ripen peaches, etc.,” he said. “I love getting to educate people and tell them stories of my family’s history in this industry. It’s rewarding to see their eyes light up as they understand the hard work that goes into growing this crop, but it’s even more rewarding to see them come back year after year because they have found the value in eating local products.” Being in business since 1925 has given Harvey and his family the opportunity to see a lot of customers through the years, many of them generational customers.” All of our customers are like family to us, especially the ones that we have seen grow up and raise their own families through the years,” Harvey said. In addition to teaching customers about peaches at the roadside stand, Harvey also offers day camps and field trips during the summer to interested school groups.
Webb’s Orchard recently became a member of our Century Farm Family Program, which recognizes family farms that have been in operation for 100 years or more! “It’s an honor to become a part of this program and be recognized for my families hard work through the years,” Harvey said. “There are not many family farms with a legacy this strong, so to be a part of the community that has agriculture roots this deep is incredible.” We are so proud to have them as a part of our Century Farm Family Program and look forward to seeing the generations of peach farmers that continue to grow at Webb’s Orchard!
