California is the largest grower of peaches in the United States, producing about 70% of the total.
The (CFPA) and (CCPA) represent the industry. (The CFPA is a separate incorporation that is operated by the CCPA's staff.) The majority of the country's peaches are grown here, for sales of $308.3 million. Since 1980 the total value of the harvest has been slightly increasing. Peach acreage has been declining however, down to .
In April 2026, Del Monte shut down its major warehouses in California. As of May 2026, California farmers plan on cutting down 420,000 peach trees following Del Monte's bankruptcy with $9 million of assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Economics In 2014, California led US peach production, followed by South Carolina, then Georgia.
cling deliveries for processing purposes have been on a downward trend for years. From in 2010, delivered tonnage declined to in 2021. Cling yield shows no clear trend over the same time, bouncing between and . As of 2022, prices of clingstone peaches had been trending mostly upward for several years, from in 2012 to . In 2022, CCPA (California Canning Peach Association) expected deliveries of clingstone peaches to be between from a yield of .
Breeding UCD hosts one of the major breeding programs in the country. Most of the private breeding programs for peach in the country are found in California, with a significant amount of the public breeding also being performed here but also elsewhere in the country.
Cultivars UCANR recommends cultivars for the state: Autumn Flame Elegant Lady Sweet Dream July Flame Created here and has remained popular ever since. Brittney Lane Crimson Lady Rich Lady Spring Snow Summer Sweet Super Rich Zee Lady September Sun Snow Giant
Pests See for the cause of here.
Arthropod Some arthropod pests of peach in California are: (Brachycaudus persicae) (Bryobia rubrioculus) (Parthenolecanium corni) (Panonychus ulmi) (Archips argyrospila) (Tettigoniidae) (Choristoneura rosaceana) (Platynota stultana) (Grapholita molesta) (Chrysobothris mali) (Aculus cornutus) (Anarsia lineatella) (Synanthedon exitiosa) (Miridae) including:
The (Bondia comonana) and the (Euzophera semifuneralis) (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) (Scolytus rugulosus) (Pentatomidae) : See and Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), see
Diseases Some diseases of peach in California include: Armillaria Root Rot see . (Pseudomonas syringae) (, occasionally ) (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) (, M. fructicola, M. laxa, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) (Taphrina deformans) (Phytophthora spp.) (Podosphaera cunningtonii) (B. cinerea, M. fructicola, Rhizopus spp.) (Tranzschelia discolor) (Cladosporium carpophilum) (Wilsonomyces carpophilus) (Verticillium dahliae)
UC IPM provides information about and . (See also .)
Peach Yellow Leaf Roll was first discovered in the Sacramento Valley in 1948, but remained uncommon until an epidemic in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For the causative organism see .
Nematode diseases Some nematode diseases of peach in California are: Dagger nematode (Xiphinema americanum) (Mesocriconema xenoplax syn. Criconemella xenoplax) (Pratylenchus vulnus and other Pratylenchus spp.) (Meloidogyne arenaria, , , and )
Integrated pest management Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers (Regional IPM Centers) hosts a suggested IPM plan for peach. UC IPM provides even more detailed integrated pest management information.
Fungal disease IPM UC IPM recommends treatment timings and resistance management practices specifically for peach IPM.
References