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A freestone peach bred to set a reliable crop where late frosts and bitter winters wipe out lesser varieties.

Contender is a cold-hardy yellow-fleshed peach developed by North Carolina State University, prized across the Upper South and the colder peach-growing regions for its dependable production. The fruit is medium-to-large, firm, and richly flavored with a balanced sweet-tart juiciness, and because it is a freestone the flesh pulls cleanly away from the pit. It eats beautifully out of hand and holds its shape for canning, freezing, and baking.

Why growers choose the Contender

• Genuine cold hardiness. Bred for the upper end of peach country, it performs reliably in zones 5 through 9 where many peaches struggle to survive winter.
• Late, frost-dodging bloom. Its spring flowers open a touch later than many peaches, helping the crop slip past damaging late frosts.
• Clean freestone flesh. The firm yellow flesh separates easily from the pit, making it ideal for slicing, canning, and freezing.
• Self-fertile productivity. A single tree sets fruit on its own, so you do not need a second peach to get a harvest.
• Heavy, consistent bearing. Vigorous and productive, it returns a substantial late-summer crop year after year once established.

At a mature 12 to 15 feet, Contender makes a manageable backyard orchard tree that fits a sunny corner of the yard, anchors a small home orchard, or stands as a productive specimen that earns its keep with both spring bloom and an August harvest.