Fall in Love with the Sweetest Peach Farm in Texas

Hams Orchards had us at “peach farm.” And once we learned it was only an hour drive from Dallas, we were practically ‘already on the road’! Thank goodness we managed to arrive before peach season ended in September, otherwise we never would have had the opportunity to bite into perfectly ripe peaches, feast on delicious barbeque and enjoy top-tier, farmers-market plus goods. Get ready to read about the best peach farm in Texas!

Here’s What’s Up Dallas!

Table of Contents

• Our Experience
• Ham Orchards History
• Basic Information
  • The Deets
  • The Grocery
  • The Barbeque
• Absolutely Need To Know
  • Harvest
  • Best Time to Come
  • What to Buy
  • Pro Tips
• Why We Chose Ham Orchards 
• Summary

Our Experience at the Best Peach Farm in Texas!

Listen. We don’t know if Ham Orchards is actually the best peach farm in Texas, cuz “best” is subjective. It’s the best to us. It’s so good, we won’t be going to any other ones. And it’s close to Dallas too. Score! 

Fun fact: you do not actually pick peaches at Ham Orchards (though that does exist). What you do pick is a basket of peaches to buy (and you’ll want to step on it because they sell fast)! We didn’t really know what to expect going into this place, but now that we’ve been, we understand perfectly. 

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Ham Orchards is divided into two parts: The Grocery Store and the Barbeque Joint.

For us, the grocery store was the real draw. It has an incredible selection of peach products. It was there we bought peach and strawberry ice cream, fresh peach salsa, fresh peach pickles, and the best peaches we’ve ever had (not an exaggeration). Plus, we bought a huge $10 basket of ripe peaches which we used to make peach cake, cobbler, galette, popsicles and more. Peach party anyone? We also bought a whole slew of other items that we’re still making our way through! 

Don’t get it twisted. Even though we loved the Grocery Store the most, the barbeque wasn’t anything to scoff at. It was delicious too, particularly because of the peach pickles and onions (are you noticing a theme?). We’re not saying Ham Orchards has the best barbeque in Texas, but it does have the best toppings. Seriously, so good!

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Ham Orchards History

We were very lucky, because during our visit, we happened to run into Karien, the eldest daughter of the owner. She was so nice, and she told us about the history of the farm! But instead of us telling you Ham Orchards’ story, we’ll let you listen for yourselves. Watch the video to learn how this peach farm in Texas went from 100 hundred trees to 10,000!

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Basic Information for The Best Peach Farm in Texas!

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The Grocery

This grocery is off the chain! It’s like a condensed farmer’s market. The store offers locally-grown fruits and vegetables—blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc. Specialty items include jams, preserves, local honey, pickles, salsa (definitely get the peach salsa) and a large selection of “no sugar added” products. Oh, and Ham’s Old Fashioned Fudge made with sweet cream and butter is a must-try, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays when it’s freshly made! 

In terms of baked goods, there are cobblers, casseroles, baked pies and fried pies, all handmade with fresh ingredients. Their award-winning, homemade soft-serve ice cream is in the back corner. And if you can’t get enough of that frozen berry and peach goodness, you can also buy a pint to go. 

What else? Don’t miss out on the fresh fruit ciders and high-quality pecans. We bought the Southern Peach Pecan Preserves. Delicious! Also, there are so many different varieties of pickles we can’t even begin to name them. We bought the Peach pickles and the Moonshine pickles. Yum! Make sure to read the Absolutely Need To Know Section to hear all about our favorite items!

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The Barbeque

Featuring popular items like brisket, sausage, chicken — and of course, the famous peach pulled pork sandwich — Ham Orchards Barbecue is super tasty! Sides include coleslaw and potato salad, with sweet tea and peach tea options. When we discovered a peach farm in Texas, we weren’t expecting to find this delicious BBQ spot too, but thank goodness we did.

Eddie Deen, a renowned BBQ chef who caters high-profile events like the Olympics, lent his expertise to the menu. Is he the one responsible for the homemade bbq sauce and the peach pickles and onions? Because if so, give that man another award! 

Heads up: BBQ isn’t available until 11:00 AM, but lines form early. Be there when it opens to avoid the wait! It gets pretty doggone busy!

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Absolutely Need to Know

Harvest

Ham Orchards grows over 30 varieties of peaches across five orchards, totaling around 10,000 trees. Peach season in Texas runs from mid-May to mid-August, starting with Cling peaches (harder to bake with) and peaking with the sweet, juicy Freestone varieties in July and August. White peaches and nectarines also ripen up in early June, so keep an eye out!

Additionally, there are different peach tiers! First Pick (the most expensive) are harvested at peak ripeness, developing maximum sweetness, juiciness, and flavor. Second Pick (less expensive and still yummy) are gathered later in the harvest. They weren’t fully ripe during the first pick—and may not reach full ripeness before they’re harvested—but are delicious regardless. And Overripe peaches (the cheapest) are generally too ripe for eating but perfect for cooking and baking (or making popsicles)! 

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Best Time to Come

For the best peaches, visit in July or August when the freestone peaches are in their prime. These peaches have been on the tree longer, making them sweeter and perfect for eating or baking. Additionally, while you can’t pick your own peaches at Ham Orchards (they’re carefully handpicked to ensure quality). You can however, pick your own blackberries! The prime blackberry-picking season starts in May. Grab a $3 bucket, and enjoy a day of berry-good fun (Hahahaha).

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What to Buy

• Peach Pulled Pork Sandwich: The must-try item, famous for a reason!
• Brisket: Karien (the eldest daughter) recommends it, and so do we.
• Mayhaw Butter: A rare find outside of Texas, made from a local berry.
• Tiny Peach Jams for $1: Perfect for taste-testing or as cute gifts.
• Fresh Peach Salsa: Buy from the fridge for the best flavor—pair it with their homemade chips. Yum! Don’t sleep on this one. 
• Fresh Peach Pickles: Buy from the fridge. Never had them before, but man are they a fave now!  
• Overripe Peaches: $10 for an entire bucket! Let’s do some math: If we used 4 peaches each for 5 different recipes and had 10 left, how many peaches did we get? (4 x 5 + 10) Thirty peaches! Maybe more. It’s very possible we ate a few before counting. Anyhow, for $10?! What a steal!

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Pro Tips

• Be on the lookout for discount shelves with 50% off items—perfect for budget-friendly shopping.
• Don’t be afraid to go crazy on the peaches! We learned from Karien that you can easily freeze peaches to enjoy later. Just blanch, skin, slice, and freeze them in airtight containers. Lasts for months!
• Blackberry and peach season overlap!
  • If you can only come to Ham Orchards once, and you really want to pick blackberries, try to hold off until June. Then you can buy some peaches too! Check the website or call ahead to confirm when the peaches come in. 
  • Our best recommendation is to plan two visits! Come once for the blackberry picking and another time for the prime freestone peaches in July or August when they’re at their sweetest and juiciest.

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Why We Chose Ham Orchards

Ham Orchards is delivering peaches that reveal what a peach should taste like. One bite and we were blown away by how different they were from grocery store peaches — so juicy and delicious, it was amazing! We’re big on fresh fruit — our very first blog post was about strawberry picking in Pilot Point, and those strawberries were incredible. We had a similar experience here, and now we know: if it’s from a local farm, it’s just going to taste better, waaayyyyyy better! 

And we can’t forget the BBQ! It’s mouthwatering, especially with those peach pickles and onions (we can’t shut up about them). On top of that, being able to buy all the little artisan goods from the store just makes everyday life better. Putting peach salsa on breakfast tacos before heading to work? Instant good mood!

We love that Ham Orchards is family-run with a clear focus on quality control. But mostly, we’re just hooked on the taste of the peaches. We haven’t picked blackberries yet, but if they’re anything like the peaches, we know they’ll be delicious too.

So yeah, we chose to write about this peach farm in Texas because we love fresh fruit. But also all the food was great and it’s a fun time; it’s a great activity you can enjoy with both family and friends.

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Summary | Best Peach Farm in Texas

Ham Orchards has got to be one of the best peach farms in Texas! Just an hour from Dallas, it’s a go-to spot for farm-fresh peaches that are way better than anything you’ll find at the grocery store. Visit in July or August for the sweetest freestone peaches. While you’re there, grab some brisket or a famous peach pulled pork sandwich from the BBQ joint.

Don’t forget to also pick up fresh peach salsa, jams, pickles and homemade ice cream from the farm store. Check for discounted items, and if you can, snag a $10 basket of overripe peaches for baking! Or if you prefer berries to peaches, go to Ham Orchards in May to pick your own blackberries. Better yet, do both! Whatever you do, it’ll be the perfect day trip, and it’s totally family-friendly too! So, Dallas, if you’ve ever asked, “is there a peach farm near me? Look no further. Ham Orchards has got you covered!

If you enjoyed this blog, then check out our blog on the Dallas Farmer’s Market. It’s a local gold mine of tasty foods and artisan products that delight! Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list to see future posts about What’s Up in Dallas. We love keeping you updated!

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