Love Georgia Peaches?

I met Al Pearson when he was ten years old. As with most boys, he was a mischievous boy! He couldn’t sit still in church, so his father, Lawton Pearson, anchored him within arm’s reach on the front row. Lawton was the Sunday School Superintendent, and while he led the singing, made announcements, and did Superintendent things, he needed Al within an arm’s reach.

I visited Al Pearson a few years ago, at the heart of his beloved Pearson Farms. True to his ancestors’ customs, he cherishes the peach business and its prominent place in the culture of Peach and Crawford Counties, GA.

Al took me to the old Hebron Church, which is now a part of Pearson Farms. Decades ago, the church closed due to dramatic population loss. After two or three iterations of various uses, Al Pearson decided to restore the old Hebron Church. Planned usages include employee education, weddings, community events, and business meetings.

Although Al Pearson has seen Georgia lose its premier place as leading peach producer (Georgia is now #3, behind South Carolina and California). Yet, Georgia still holds the title, “The Peach State,” which is something of an empty title. Nevertheless, Pearson Farms maintains vigilant efforts in keeping up with climate change as well as market demands.

Keeping peach production on track and profitable is an endless battle. There are some unpredictable components that directly impact production and profit; among them are weather and market demands. Modern meteorology can help in predicting weather conditions but

cannot control them. Hopefully, the recent January cold weather will benefit Georgia peach growers — most varieties of peaches grown in Georgia need 500 to 800 chill hours (that is, temperatures below 45 degrees).

Nevertheless, just as new life was found for the old Hebron Methodist Church building, as the world changed around it, so has peach production. Producers discover new varieties and recipes, further expanding the market. Georgia leads the way in exploring varieties that are more favorable to climate change. Survival depends upon it.

I find it encouraging that Georgia farmers seek and follow good research for traditional crops, like peaches. Times and circumstances change; Ecclesiastes 3:1 says it best: There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens.

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2026