Who wants a Georgia Peach when you can be Jersey Fresh?

One of the most amazing things about living in the Garden State is the bountiful produce to be found here! Beginning in May, farmers markets and road side stands start to burst with life and the bounty of the first crops. Until you've lived outside the Garden State, you don't realize how lucky you actually are!

New Jersey has more than 9,500 farms state wide on more than 725,000 acres. In addition to corn, tomatoes, soybeans and other vegetables, New Jersey produces five major fruit berry crops including apples, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and peaches.

New Jersey ranks 4th in the nation for peach production. So why buy a Georgia peach when you can get a Jersey peach right in your own back yard?! Gloucester County alone grew 36 million pounds of Peaches in 2007. Peaches come into season in Jersey July through September. They sweeten the air in the farmers market with their delicate sent luring customers in for their first bite of summer. By the time mid-August rolls around you will be able to find delicious and ripe Jersey grown peaches every farmers market in the state.

Peaches are more than just a summertime treat, they're a guilt free dessert that pack a nutritional wallop! Peaches are rich in Vitamin A which has been shown to prevent cancer. Research even suggests that peaches have good to excellent antioxidant activity, some antimicrobial activity and good to excellent tumor growth inhibition activity. Since Apples officially don't come into season until September, fill your summers up with a peach a day to keep the doctor away! They are comprised of more than 80 percent water and are a good source of dietary fiber, making them good for people trying to lose weight. Peaches will also help with that healthy summer glow. They're packed with antioxidants that help make the skin healthy and also add color to the complexion.

To enhance your peaches and cream complexion after a long day relaxing at the shore, try 3HealthyChicks Peach and Strawberry Facials Mask.

Ingredients

1 ripe Jersey Peach
2 ripe Jersey Strawberries
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp oatmeal

Pit and dice the peach. Then mash the peach and strawberries to a creamy pulp. Add a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of oatmeal. If the mixture is a bit too thick, add a few drops of water to form a thin paste. Apply to skin and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse well with cool water.


Peach peels exfoliate gently and contain large amounts of alpha-hydroxy acids. The natural exfoliation removes dead skin cells and speeds up cell renewal, leading to healthier skin tone. It softens wrinkles, sun spots, age spots, blemishes and unclogs pores leading to a healthier and brighter skin tone. Oatmeal is hypoallergenic and it helps to soften skin. Clinical studies have shown that oatmeal healps to heal dry, itchy skin. This mask will calm your skin and leave you with a beautiful, hydrated glow.