ON PERFORMING IN A SPECIFIED WAY

SUMMER FARE

The Paul Friday 5B

variety first developed

in 1996, in Michigan

by Paul Friday. Famous

for his Flaming Furies--

peaches numbered in order

of when they ripen

in relationship to each other.

Number 5 signifies this one

was 5th to ripen of 27 kinds.

In Colorado it can be the first--

49 days before standard Elbertas,

118 days after full blossom.

Elbertas are used as the standard

for measuring ripeness of all peaches.

The rich, red color of Paul Friday 5B

signals to its value. A semi-cling peach

not a free stone. We're in Yakima,

one song away from Johnson Orchards.

The longer a peach remains

on the tree the sweeter the taste.

Topaz is worth the risk of frost

coveted for its aromatic smell.

It's the middle of September

and I've brought home four peaches

from Johnson's. Snow Giant.

White-fleshed, Snow-white,

weighing in at a pound each,

easily bruised, sweet whether firm or soft,

often thrown into trash

until the mid-80s, sweet

with low-acid. I read through

all the recipes past down,

all the ones linked on-line,

contemplative,

                        and knowledgeable

of sugar content in watermelon

from eastern Oregon, blueberries

on Cheerios. Moving through the day

with cucumbers, small zucchini

in olive oil with Beefsteak tomatoes,

and Walla Walla Sweets,

I savor succulent valley produce,

even as peach juice runs down

my chin, early afternoons. This

is all preparation, getting ready

for evening ritual repeating itself

through August, into late September,

one we have to be home for

completing each summer day,
one recipe pleasure-visceral deep,

fresh peaches over ice cream.

Jim Bodeen

August-September, 2018