Peach season pops

Hollin Farms is now open for pick-your-own peaches. (Margaret Thomas for the Washington Post)

Well, at least something has benefited from that hideous stretch of heat in June: local peaches.

Peaches are ripe a week earlier than usual, according to Tom Davenport of Hollin Farms in Delaplane, Va. Hollin is one of five orchards along the five-mile Virginia Peach Way, the largest concentration of peach orchards in the Washington area.

Early varieties Sentry, a semi-freestone yellow fruit, and Sweet Scarlets, a yellow freestone with white peach flavor, are ready. Over the holiday weekend, raspberries and blueberries will also be ripe for picking.

Not willing to make the drive? Expect to find local peaches at many city farmers markets this including 14th and U, Bloomingdale, Dupont Circle, Silver Spring, H Street, Glover Park, St. Michaels. Stock up, then check out our "Bumper Crop" listing of great peach recipes.

-- Jane Black