Palisade Peachfest is just a couple weeks away, and with that in mind, Dixie Burmeister visited Aloha Organic Fruit in Palisade to get an early look at some
of what Peachfest has in store.

As you might expect visiting a peach orchard in August, she found delicious peaches, but also ran into some executive chefs.  Apparently this was not just your typical orchard.

"Last year at Palisade Peach Festival we got together and there was about one cooking demonstration every hour for about six hours," explained Jesse Wilson, a chef with the Wine Country Inn.

You get the full package when you attend, Wilson says a note pad is highly recommended.

"You have all the ingredients there," he explained. "So not only do we show you the techniques of how we do things, but you do see all of the ingredients that go into it."

New Wine Country Inn executive chef Randy Jones secretly explained what he and Jesse will be doing at the festival.

"One of our dishes we're planning on doing is a peach melba, just a classical dish that probably brings back a lot of memories for a lot of folks in town," he said.

So, is he nervous?

"I'm not nervous at all.  I mean, I like providing. I feel like I'm providing a service for my community," Jones explained.

Aloha grower Steven Sherer may be busy, but he's ready for the festival and all that entails.

"It's a great celebration for this valley that we've had peaches here for so many years. And I think it's a wonderful thing to celebrate the peach. It does an enormous amount for all of us," he explained.

Agri-tours give guests a real feel for how that peach ends up in their hands.

"For me it's a great thing because I get personal contact with the consumer," said Sherer. "So it's a win-win situation."

Dixie met a young family who came quite a distance to fulfill a soon-to-be five year-old's Colorado peach birthday wish.

"A friend of ours, who turned out to be his godmother actually, brought us a bag of Colorado peaches," explained Tom Plant. "And so, (we) brought it to the hospital, and I think on his third birthday he decided that he wanted to come out here when he was five and pick some."

Coming from Minnesota farming families, they have a great appreciation for our peaches and those like Steve who grow them.

"(We) both have families who have farmed throughout their life," said Tom's wife Diane.  "So, (they) also worked dusk to dawn, and so it's interesting to here Steve's tales about not having the day off and working every day all day..."

For more information on all the peach festival activities, including the recipe contest Saturday, August 18th, head on over to www.palisadepeachfest.com.  For more on Aloha Organic Fruit, visit www.alohaorganicfruit.com.