August is National Peach Month! Peaches are nutritious snacks or healthy, sweet additions to meals, as a medium peach will provide about 60 calories, 8% of an adult’s daily value of fiber, 6% of vitamin A, 15% of vitamin C, and 7% of potassium1! Eat the skin of the peach to ensure you are getting all the fiber the fruit has to offer. Although Georgia is known as the peach state, most peaches are grown in California2. Peaches can grow in North Carolina, and our state is ranked the 9th largest peach producer in the nation3. To learn all about how to grow peach trees in North Carolina, check out this website: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-peaches-in-north-carolina.
Not sure how to incorporate peaches into meal time? Try this recipe from Oregon State University Extension Service (https://foodhero.org/recipes/peach-salsa):
Peach Salsa
· Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped peaches, canned or fresh (about 1.5 to 2 medium fresh)
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1⁄2 cup chopped onion(1⁄2 medium onion)
- 1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
· Directions
- Combine peaches, tomato, bell pepper, onion and cilantro in a large bowl. Add lime juice, salt and pepper and gently stir to mix.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
· Notes
- For extra flavor, add cayenne pepper or diced jalapeno peppers.
- Serve with fresh vegetables, crackers or baked tortilla chips
- Try with tacos, fish, chicken, and more.
-Kaitlin Slone, RDN, LDN
References:
- https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/labelingnutrition/ucm063482.htm
- https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/Files/INN/Peach.pdf
- https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-peaches-in-north-carolina
