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Precious Peaches: Carolina Peaches in Season!

We are proud to announce that South Carolina peaches are in season, and that we carry plenty of them in stock. We feature our peaches from June through August, and during this time we see hundreds of thousands of peaches pass through our market.

We generally carry yellow freestone peaches, the name of which refers to the color and to the quality of the peach. "Freestone" peaches have stones, or seeds, that come out easily when you open the peach. This makes things much easier when you use peaches for cooking, as otherwise the fruit "clings" and is difficult to remove. All of our peaches are freestone for this reason, as we like peaches that work equally well in the lunchbox or the oven.

If yellow isn't your color, then we carry white peaches as well. Sweeter and more delicate in flavor, white peaches are good when eaten alone or paired with cheeses. We don't generally recommend cooking with white peaches: yellow peaches have a flavor that stands out in pies, cakes, and other desserts, while white peaches are at risk of being overpowered by other flavors. But, when eaten raw, white and yellow peaches are both quite good!

Our grower in South Carolina has been consistently providing us with quality peaches for more than 20 years, so you can be assured that you will receive the best when you stop by our market.

While you're here, why not take a look at some of our other peach-related products? Our bakery specializes in peach pies, cobblers, and pastries throughout the summer, and we also carry a selection of light peach wines. But, whatever your fancy, we're sure you'll find that our peaches will be a great treat anytime during the summer, so eat and enjoy!

Grandy's Famous Dressings

We do a lot with fresh fruits and vegetables over the year, but we also carry a wide stock of preserved goods. Jams, honey, sauces, preserves...Grandy Farm Market is a great place to pick up some perserved goods that you won't find anywhere else. Among our best selling "pantry items" are our Vidalia Onion Dressings.

Made with (you guessed it) super-sweet Vidalia Onions as their base, the dressings build on that flavor using a variety of complementary herbs, spices, infused oils, and vegetables. The best thing about these dressings is that they can put a new spin on many dishes, not just salads: try Sun-Dried Tomato dressing on a burger, for example, or replace mayo with Lemon Poppyseed dressing in coleslaw. We even have peach-based dressings that combine sweet, salty, and spicy tastes for a flavor-packed addition to your summer salads.

Years ago we had just a handful of dressings, but each year we try to add something new. Whether you have some old favorites or you're looking for a new dressing to "wow" your dinner guests, be sure to check our Vidalia Onion dressings for something tasty and unique.

Season for Strawberries

One of the most exciting parts of early summer is watching strawberries grow from tiny, hard, pea-sized things to bright red bites of goodness. The local strawberry season has begun, and we can expect it to last at least through mid-June. Whether you're just dropping in for a visit or you're a local, drop in for some sweet, soft, brilliant strawberries.

Taking Care of Your Berries

When you get your strawberries, you'll want to take steps to preserve their shape and texture, especially if you purchased a lot of them and want to eat them whole. But even if you get just a quart of berries, you'll want to take care to keep them in good shape.

If you purchased a large bucket of strawberries and plan to keep them for a few days, the best step you can take is to separate the berries and put them in smaller containers. Sweet berries are soft berries, and ours are very sweet. After a night in the fridge, the sheer weight of the berries on the top of the bucket can crush those on the bottom. Of course, if you plan to make preserves or mix the berries in frozen yogurt that day, then maybe a bit of bruising is not such a big deal.

Before eating any berries, we strongly recommend giving them a good wash with cold water. This gets rid of lingering particulates, but it also perks up the berries. Also check your berries for mold: if bruises start to turn dark or you see fluffy white growths, don't eat affected strawberries and give neighboring berries a good wash. You may be able to use affected berries by cutting away distasteful sections, but if a berry is more than 50% affected then recommend using it for compost instead.

Remember that food mold loves sugary fruits but is not toxic, so don't panic even if you wake up to find one of your strawberries has gone full "cotton ball." Refrigeration and gentle handling are the best ways to preserve fresh strawberries at home.

Now Open for 2024

The green-and-white awnings are up once again as we begin the 2024 growing season! We are very excited for this year, as we have a great crew coming in and we are delighted at the stock our growers have set up for us. We've opened a little later this year compared to last year, but that's due mainly to the weird winter and cool spring this year. Nevertheless, the first day has been a blast and we are committed to bringing you the best produce throughout the seasons.

We'll be open daily, currently from 8:30am-5:30pm on weekdays and 8am-6pm on weekends, with extended weekend hours during summer. The Greenhouse may not have the fullest stock just yet, but the Farm Market will be pretty darn full. We even have the bakery and fudge counters going, so stop by for a sweet treat while you browse our produce. Soon we'll have our regular seasonal highlights, so check back often for updates on availability!

Are you ready? We're ready. From the first to the last day of the season, drop in to Grandy's for some great produce, baked goods, and other treats.

April 18th!

The produce truck is fuelled up and shiny, the store is swept and pretty, and the bakery ovens are scrubbed within an inch of their lives. But, most importantly, our local growers are ready with lots of produce. We are ready for the 2024 season, and we'll be opening very soon!

We plan to open on April 18th, at 8:00am sharp, and from then on we'll be open daily from 8am-6pm. As the summer season really kicks in, we'll extend our weekend hours to 7am-6pm. We look forward to seeing you!