Sweet Georgia Peaches are arriving at grocery stores for the season. This year’s crop is expected to not only be delicious, but also, abundant. This season’s peak months are expected to be in June and July and continue through mid-August.
“It’s going to be a great year for Georgia Peaches,” says Will McGehee of the Georgia Peach Council. “We expect this year’s crop to surpass last year’s and the quality of the peaches will be outstanding.”
To extend its consumer awareness and education efforts, the Georgia Peach Council will schedule a number of television cooking demonstrations throughout the campaign, and has created a “Georgia in July” retail kit for use by strategic partners in target markets throughout the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest. The kit includes point-of-sale merchandising display bins highlighting freestone peaches, Georgia Peaches farm market bags, recipes and nutritional information.
The creation of a Facebook application was so successful last season, the council says it will offer it to retailers for use in social media campaigns. The Facebook application allows consumers to send a “virtual” Georgia Peach to sweeten someone’s day. Retailers now can share the app on their web page and social media sites, and consumers also can access the app by logging onto the Georgia Peach Council’s Facebook page.
Social media will continue to be an important component of the Georgia Peach Council’s strategy, with an increased presence on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, according to the organization.
Additionally, Big Fuzzy, the council’s peach mascot, will greet attendees and runners at this year’s Peachtree Road Race, held each July 4 in Atlanta. The estimated 60,000 runners who cross the finish line will be rewarded with a Sweet Georgia Peach. Photos taken with the mascot will be uploaded onto the council’s Facebook page.
