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In summer there’s nothing like a sweet Texas peach, and when summer ends, Ham Orchard in Terrell will soon be closing for the season. If you haven’t done your annual peach hike yet, or have never visited this peach lover’s paradise, you need to be there by August 14th or add it to your wish-list for next year.
Sure, you can buy great peaches right now at a nearby farmers market or your local grocery store. Freestone peaches, where the stone is not attached to the fruit, ripen throughout August and are best eaten fresh.
But for anything peachy, a trip to Ham Orchard is a must. While the roadside market isn’t an experience, its 10,000 trees on five orchards provide enough peaches to make anything you can imagine. From peach cake and coffee cake to peach salsa and barbecue sauce, you can find everything in their store.
You can buy peaches in a bag or half a bushel and be sure to try the peach pulled pork at the grill stand and end your visit with peach (or strawberry) soft ice cream.
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The quaint shop is simple
Kristina Rowe
It’s worth the drive
The orchard is just off Highway 80 and is approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown Dallas. Go straight on Interstate 30 to Highway 80. On the way you will pass Forney, where antique shops line part of the highway.
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There’s not much more to see in Terrell, but nostalgics will love seeing tiny local cafes, an old-school bowling alley, and an ice rink, all of which are still in operation. Driving down “Main Street” frozen in time feels like stepping back in time, even if you’ve never visited Terrell before.
If you want to make it a day, it’s about 27 miles on State Highway 205 to Rockwall, where you’ll find another charming downtown area with lakeside restaurants, the newly opened Siren Rock Brewery, and an Urban Air Adventure Park (among other things) Children.
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They even put peaches in the ‘que.
Kristina Rowe
Eddie Deen’s BBQ pavilion
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (when the market closes) you can grill out of a walk-in window and eat on the spacious covered pavilion. Make your way back to grab a comfy rocking chair or gather the whole family around a table.
You will probably have to wait a bit in line for Eddie Deen’s barbecue to be served here, but when I visited the line moved fast and the food came fast too. You can order chopped or sliced brisket, sausage, smoked chicken or pulled pork and there are even hot dogs for those who don’t want to grill.
While not outstanding, the brisket was moist and had a nice smoky taste that was enhanced with homemade barbecue sauce.
But the star of the show here is the peach-pulled pork, which is not only flavored with peaches, but also cooked right in it. Also, if you need a fork to eat, I highly recommend ordering it as a sandwich as the bread is divine.
Side dishes are charro beans, potato salad, coleslaw or french fries and combinations include a side dish and a soft drink from the can or sweet tea (the peach variety, if you feel like it). If your visit has to be short, you can take home family packs of peach pulled pork, sliced or chopped brisket, or smoked chicken.
Whatever you choose, be sure to leave space for ice cream for dessert.
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In the farm shop
In the surprisingly large market shop you can find everything that has to do with peaches, but it’s not just about peaches. In addition to the peach plantations, the Ham family grows vegetables and other fruits. Nice tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers were offered on the day of my visit, as well as strawberries, blueberries and plums.
Pecans and pecan candy and locally grown honey (and jars to keep them in) line the shelves.
If you’re strolling the store and getting one of everything that looks good, you need a shopping cart (and they have it). On-site baked goods and fudge are well stocked, but you need to get there early to get fried pies or a whole peach pie. They are sold out quickly.
You’ll see rows and rows of jars of canned peaches on site, along with every jam, jelly, sauce, relish, and pickle you could want. There are several varieties of peach salsa by the glass, there are some other fabulous finds including black-eye pea dip, big dill pickle salsa, and green chile tamale salsa.
Freezer boxes are filled with pints and half pints of peach and strawberry ice cream to take home, or you can grab a soft serve cone or mug from the counter, which also has a variety of homemade fudges Varieties are seduced.
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The homemade ice cream could be worth the drive in itself.
Kristina Rowe
Made with love
The shop is a bit cheesy, but there is magic when you can put your cynicism on hold for a short while. For starters, there are a number of love stories wrapped up in this thriving small town business.
Founded by Dale and Judy Ham with 50 peach trees they planted in 1979, the business was accepted by the community (and beyond). Now people from all over the United States come to visit the orchards.
On one wall of the shop, a framed newspaper story tells the “sweet encounter” story of Hams’ daughter Sharien and her husband Richard Strange, who now work all day in the orchard during the season. It’s not the only love story that comes out of the orchard.
Mainly occupied by high school and college students from May to August, Ham Orchard shared his newest “Orchard Couple” on his Facebook page in late July. Recently engaged coworkers Caitlyn and Kurtis fell in love while working there over the years, and they are the fifth love affair to have formed in the Orchards since Sharien and Richard met in 1985 and married in 1987.
If you have a crush on peaches or not during the summer, Ham Orchard is likely to find something (or someone?)
Ham Orchard, 11939 County Road 309 (Terrell). 972-524-2028. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday until August 14th.
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