The USDA-ARS stone fruit program at Byron, GA has released two new early season peach cultivars named ‘May Joy’ (Fig. 1) and ‘Cardinal Joy’ (Fig. 2). ‘May Joy’ requires ~650 chill hours and produces yellow-fleshed, clingstone fruit that typically ripen approximately a week before ‘Flavorich’ and 2-3 weeks before ‘Carored’ in early to mid May in Byron, GA. ‘May Joy’ fills an earlier season niche than currently planted cultivars. ‘Cardinal Joy’ requires ~850 chill hours and produces yellow-fleshed, semi-freestone fruit. The fruit typically ripen about a week after ‘Flavorich’ and a few days before ‘‘Carored’ in mid to late May in Byron, GA. ‘Cardinal Joy’ is a promising higher chilling requirement alternative in the early season. Both new cultivars are suited for trial in areas wherever ‘Flavorich’ and ‘Carored’ are grown. Prospective licensees and requesters for the materials may contact USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer at 5601 Sunnyside Ave, Room 4-1192, Beltsville, MD 20705-5131, USA or via license@usda.gov.
Fig. 1 Typical ripe ‘May Joy’ fruit on a tree at Byron, GA.
Fig. 2 Typical ripe ‘Cardinal Joy’ fruit on a tree in Byron, GA.