The 2018 Peach Season is Here: Peachfest Announces Chefs, Sponsors & More

Responsible Agriculture, Culinary Excellence and Amazing Causes

PeachFest Sets Stage for a New Downtown Culinary Experience

ATLANTA (May 18, 2018) - PeachFest returns to Downtown Atlanta on Sunday, July 29 underneath the canopy on Downtown’s Broad Street at FlatironCity (Fairlie-Poplar). More than 600 attendees, 65 food artisans, pastry chefs and barkeeps will collaborate on a memorable culinary event. This year’s festival is an initiative to combine responsible agriculture, culinary, and technology alongside delicious preparations of Georgia-grown peaches. With peach season upon us, the growers and event organizers share their agricultural insight and are happy to announce the beginning of Peach season with a statement known as “The PeachStand.”

What does this mean for peach lovers? With spring in full bloom, we are happy to announce that this year’s Peach Season is “More-Than Favorable.” Peach trees produced abundant flowers in March which means great things for farmers and peach enthusiasts in Georgia. Local varieties will be represented mid-May through mid-August, maximizing opportunities to prepare fresh applications alongside pickles, jams, baking and more utilizing our Georgia’s namesake summer fruit. Consumers can start planning those peach-inspired menus because peaches will hit local farmer markets this weekend.

“The Georgia peach growers are anticipating a much more bountiful summer in 2018 after last year's 15 percent of a crop. In 2017, a historically-warm winter and a late frost decimated the peach harvests of the GA growers,” Will McGehee, founder The Genuine Georgia Group LLC. “Georgia is one of the top three peach producing states in the country with the state's production is centered in Fort Valley and the surrounding five counties.”

PeachFest was named after Georgia’s iconic state fruit and aims to celebrate the state’s agricultural diversity. Our goals include raising money for charity, celebrating Georgia grown peaches, blueberries, peanuts, heritage breed pigs and Vidalia onions. Tickets start at $60 for an all-inclusive afternoon peach-feast, to purchase tickets, click here https://www.peachfest.org or for an in-depth look at the PeachFest movement, watch the overview video.

This year’s incredible lineup of chefs behind the peach-inspired culinary revival includes: Hector Santiago of El Super Pan; Julio Delgado; Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina, Drew Van Leuvan of Seven Lamps, Terry Koval of Wrecking Bar, Andre Gomez of Porch Light, Richard Bradford of True Fare, John Short of Pearson Farms, Ramesh Kaduru of The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, Richard Tang of Char, Rusty Bowers of Pine Street Market, Judd Foster of South of Heaven BBQ, Joy Jessup and Rebecca Weil of Sugar Spun Fun, Revolution Doughnuts, Elodie Westover, Nicholas Brown-Crawford, and Spencer Barnett of Golden Eagle / Muchacho.

Official Host: FlatironCity on Broad Street NW and Poplar Street NW

When: Sunday, July 29, 2018

Time: 3 p.m. for VIP entry, 4 p.m. for General Admission; Ends at 7 p.m.

Tickets: VIP Access, $100; General Admission, $60. RSVP online www.peachfest.org

General Admission $60

A unique signature three-hour culinary experience of delight and wonderment. Feast on peach inspired dishes ranging from paleo to pizza, ethically sourced proteins and responsibly raised heritage breed pigs paired with peaches, a variety of beverages from local craft breweries, distilleries and wineries, all created by some of Georgia’s most forward thinking food and drink leaders.

VIP Access $100

Start celebrating PeachFest early and treat yourself to the VIP area. With an extra hour of extravagance. Start with a private tasting of cellared wines in the Silent Auction, mingle with chefs, winemakers and farmers who make it all happen. Select chefs will serve up limited dishes to entice your palate while you sip on our best wines and reserved spirits, including the infamous peach wood smoked old fashion.

This year’s barkeeps and brands rounding out the food and beverage experience include Royal Oak Charcoal, Aglanta, Trip Sandifer, Breckenridge Distillery, Creature Comforts, FlatironCity, Holmsted Fines, Alltech Spirits, Wines of Rioja, Turnip Truck, Wrecking Bar, soofa, Mint Staffing, Impress Events, The Pantry & Provisions, Pearson Farms, M2 Public Relations and Central Atlanta Progress.

“PeachFest is a fairy-tale celebration of peaches and different species of heritage pork raised by local family farmers,” says Brady Lowe, Piggy Bank’s project director. “But it does more than that: it also highlights the dynamic tastes and energies of Atlanta’s core urban district and its tight-knit communities. And that wouldn’t happen without the dedication and support of our local partners and contributors.”

About Piggy Bank

Launched in 2015, Piggy Bank is creating a farming sanctuary for heritage breed pigs, many of which are endangered. Piggy Bank will provide genetics and access to shared business plans for raising heritage pigs to emerging family farms. Piggy Bank aims to change the future of food by creating a community in which small farmers can learn about safer, more responsible practices and share genetics, livestock, and the very information needed to thrive as small businesses. Piggy Bank is building a model of socially responsible agricultural transparency. Piggy Bank proudly operates as a project of the Trust for Conservation Innovation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization which accelerates impact for initiatives focused on protecting and fostering a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. For more information or to donate, visit www.piggy-bank.org or follow @PiggyBankOrg on Twitter. Watch the video http://j.mp/PIGGY_BANK.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Morris, M-Squared Public Relations

E: Jennifer@msquaredpr.com

P: 404-303-7797 ext. 5

Social handles here: Twitter: @ATLPeachFest

Instagram: @ATLPeachFest

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/284562615369148/

Hashtags: #weloveATL #goodfood #sustainable #georgiagrown #peaches #peachpuppy #bbq #pizza #paleo #cocktails #icecream #beer #wine #festival #events #charity #foodies #fun #peachfest

HIGH-RESOLUTION VIDEO & IMAGES (MUST CREDIT PEACHFEST)

Video 1 - Caption: Atlanta to host excitement culinary festival dedicated to Georgia Grown peaches! Food lovers rejoice while supporting local producers, chefs and farmers at Downtown’s most important culinary gatherings this summer with it’s warm southern-hospitality.

Image 1 - Caption: Serving surprising combinations of creative peach cookery and incredible beverage pairings make this event a hot ticket for foodies this Summer.

Image 2 - Caption: May the best peachdish win, from peach infused sausages to peach punches. Local chefs and barkeeps bring their best game to showcase a new downtown experience. Tickets on sale now.

Image 3 - Caption: Hundreds of food lovers meet this July in Downtown Atlanta to celebrate Georgia grown peaches, blueberries, peanuts, gourmet pigs and Vidalia onions while discovering a new Downtown culinary experience.

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