Atlanta etc.: Marilyn Wolf's Food Blog and Restaurant Blog

June is my peach tour month. I started with my favorite peach farm, Fitzgerald Fruit Farm. Their beautiful new shed is courtesy of the tornado that tore down their old one. I first enjoyed a cup of peach ice cream. The peach flavor came through loud and clear. I then picked out my produce: a box of second-grade peaches for canning, onions, and potatoes. A few miles down the road, I briefly stopped at Hudson Farm's stand, which features produce as well as potted plants. I didn't get a chance to stop at the stand across the street---hopefully next time. I next headed to Byron but I couldn't find the Georgia Peach Festival there. I made a brief stop at Barbour Farms' stand near I-75. It carries produce, canned goods, and fresh candies. I next headed to Lane Orchards where I picked up another case of second-grade peaches. I thought I was splurging until I saw a woman with four cases. And of course I stood in a long line for their wonderful pea...

I had a little time before my flight back to Atlanta. Picking up some citrus seemed like a good idea. A quick search led me to The Orange Shop. This lovely little place has been on the highway since 1936. As you can see, they offer a variety of fruit products and souvenirs as well as fruit. I picked up a bag of navel oranges and a bag of grapefruit. The fruit will last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator so I will be busy for the next few weeks. This is very good fruit. The oranges in particular strike me as being more flavorful than the store bought variety. They have a citrus brightness that I haven't tasted in quite some time. Their thin skin is a sign of the ideal nature of the climate in which they were raised. I have to believe that buying directly from the grower makes a difference.

I have had very good success with farm stands on US 25. It seems to be small enough to allow farmers to stay in the area but big enough to invite customers. I hadn’t tried this stand before. Their stock concentrated on apples, understandable for this time of year. I left very satisfied with a sack of Arkansas black apples, a wonderful variety.

Fall has its own harvest and rituals. One of mine is to enjoy the apple crop. So I got in the car and drove past Clayton to my favorite farm stand, Osage Farms. Before I looked for produce, I enjoyed a half rack of ribs from Tomlin's BBQ; sorry, no photos, I was too hungry. With my hunger sated, it was time to get down to business. I surveyed the huge selection of apples and was about to select two small bags. Then I saw this box of assorted apples for only $12. Assorted apples are exactly what you want for a variety of baking needs---a mix of varieties gives the best flavor. I also picked up some eggplant, peppers, and okra. My next stop was the drug store in Clayton for a root beer float. Their soda fountain is a reminder of a simpler time. My next stop was Blue Ridge Honey Company. They sell an impressive array of beekeeping equipment as well as maintaining a large honey processing operation. They also stock beeswax; you could make one heck of a candle with some...