Veteran or Beginner, Tennessee Peach Farmers Have Reason to Celebrate This Summer
NASHVILLE – Forgie’s Fruit Farm near Lewisburg is turning 20. Up north of Nashville near Springfield, a 25 year old farmer is just getting started in the orchard business. Both have good reason to celebrate this summer, though: peaches.
Tennessee’s climate doesn’t guarantee a peach crop every year. In fact, Tennessee spring frosts allow for a bumper peach crop just about once every five years, depending on where in the state the orchard is located. This year, most of Middle Tennessee just missed a capricious late freeze that damaged crops to the east but left orchards like Forgie’s and Red River Farm poised for a peachy summer.
Pick Tennessee Products will host media days to get the word out about this year’s crop at Red River Farm on Tuesday, July 15, and at Forgie’s Fruit Farm on Thursday, July 17. At each Pick Tennessee Products Media Day, participating media can interview farmers and area officials in attendance, get footage and photographs of visitors and receive a “goody bag” including digital images and information about local foods and farms.
In Tyler Sneed’s case, young doesn’t mean inexperienced. Sneed is a 4th generation farmer who currently farms blackberries, concord grapes, soybeans, corn, wheat and tobacco in addition to the 500 trees that will be loaded with peaches through August. Sneed lives on the farm in an old tobacco barn he converted into a living space overlooking the Red River. Sneed will serve cobbler made with the farm’s blackberries and peaches, plus peach ice cream.
The Forgie family makes their years of experience count. Just last year they grew the world’s largest peach with a variety that weighed in just under 3 lbs. The farm has beautifully manicured rows of fruit trees, but also offers pick your own sweet corn, tomatoes, melons and other popular types of produce. Media will be treated to a wagon ride through the picturesque community, as well as treated to a barbecue luncheon with homemade peach cobbler and peach cheese cake.
Who: All media are invited. Local officials are also encouraged to attend. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP to Pamela Bartholomew, Tennessee Department of Agriculture Agritourism Coordinator, at Pamela.Bartholomew@tn.gov or 615-837-5348.
Time: Media day activities will begin at 11:00 a.m. local time.
Tuesday, July 15: Red River Farm
Tyler Sneed
5350 Draper Road, Springfield, TN (Robertson County)
Phone: (615) 804-9225
Email: tylernsneed@gmail.com
Thursday, July 17: Forgie’s Fruit Farm
Bill Forgie
2000 Collier Road, Lewisburg, TN 37091 (Marshall County)
Phone: (931) 359-0153 or 931-637-7759
E-mail: forgiefruitfarm@gmail.com
Web: forgiefruitfarm.com