The Peach Truck returns to Pittsburgh

The Peach Truck is rolling back into town this summer, delivering fresh produce just in time for Pittsburgh’s peak farm-to-table season.

The Nashville-based Peach Truck will stop at 11 locations this summer throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Stephen Rose, owner of the Peach Truck, got the idea for the company after moving from Fort Valley, Ga., to Nashville with his wife.

There, Rose noticed what he called “a severe lack of peaches” in the area. Rose and his wife went back to Georgia to collaborate with the peach farm from his childhood summers.

“I grew up going to the packing sheds just for fun… eating peaches and peach ice cream,” he said.

Rose said he believes the best peaches come from Fort Valley, Ga.

So he and his wife brought peaches to Nashville.

In summer 2012, the couple started selling Georgia peaches in Nashville out of their 1964 Jeep truck. After five weeks, they sold over 10 tons of peaches.

Rose said the job was difficult at first, but, after 13 years, his business has grown to a national scale.

The Peach Truck vehicles pick up peaches from three farms and deliver them to 25 states between June and August, shuttling back and forth to bring fresh peaches to customers nationwide.

Rose recommends pre-ordering peaches, as walk-ups are rarely available.

“The growers love the idea of the consumers getting the peaches right off the tree just like they would feed their families,” Rose said. “That’s kind of the magic of it.”

The Peach Truck will be stopping in Monroeville, Harrison, The Waterfront in Homestead, Hampton, Wexford, Greensburg, the South Hills, Finley, Robinson, Cranberry and more.

Rose says customers should expect an especially good crop of peaches this year — and more affordable prices.

Customers can place pick-up orders at a price of $38 for 12-pound boxes, $55 for 25-pound boxes and the “Local Pickup: Tour Special” which includes two 25-pound boxes and two bags of pecans for $115.

Customers can also sign up for home delivery during certain windows, which offers a 4-week subscription for $135-$210 until July 18, a single 8-pound or 4-pound peach box for $40-$60, and various Peach Truck merchandise.

Items will be shipped directly to the home or to the nearest Peach Truck location via FedEx.

The number of peaches in each box might vary.

According to Rose, a 12-pound box of peaches could run out in a week in the average four-person household, so it’s a good idea to stock up.

Also, buying in bulk is cheaper, Rose said.

Rose recommends leaving peaches out until they soften (in a paper bag, if you want to eat the peaches sooner) then refrigerating peaches to keep them fresh.

Pre-orders for The Peach Truck close at midnight one week prior to each stop date.

Locations and Times:

• Lowe’s, Monroeville, 4200 William Penn Highway on July 13
• The Waterfront Shopping Mall, Homestead, 152 East Bridge Street on July 13
• Tractor Supply Co., 4015 Freeport Road, Harrison on July 3 and July 27
• Hampton High School, 2929 McCully Road on June 29 and July 20
• The Block Northway, Ross, 8013 McKnight Road, on June 22, July 2, July 20
• Westmoreland Mall, Greensburg, 5256 U.S. 30 on July 13
• Wexford Plaza, 10576 Perry Highway on June 28 and July 19
• South Hills Village, 301 South Hills Village on June 21, July 12, August 2
• Tractor Supply Co., Finleyville, 6244 Pa-88, Finleyville on June 21, July 12, and August 2
• Robinson Town Centre, 2000 Park Manor Boulevard, on June 28 and July 19
• Tractor Supply Co., Cranberry, 20860 Route 19, on June 29 and July 20