Peaches are my favorite stone fruit. I love everything about them: their floral aroma, fuzzy skin, and juicy flesh. To take full advantage of the fact that right now is the apex of their season, I stopped by San Jose's J&P Orchards [1] — quite possibly the last fruit orchard in Silicon Valley. After taking a stroll through his orchard, I spoke with owner Phil Cosentino about peach season. Find out what to look for in peaches when you .

• While peaches are ready as early as May and available until late September, peach season is at its peak in July and August.
• When selecting peaches at the fruit stand or grocery store, examine the area around the stem, as it indicates ripeness when picked. The stem cavity should be wide and open rather than narrow and restricted.
• To select the sweetest peaches, take a look at the peach's base color. The peach's lightest color, regardless of shade (cream, yellow, orange, etc.), should be a warm hue. The best peaches will have no green undertones.
• Whenever possible, visit a local peach orchard or fruit stand, as many large commercial grocery giants select peaches before they are meant to be plucked from the vine.
• Don't squeeze peaches when selecting them; you'll simply bruise them. That said, it is perfectly fine to pick a bruised peach, as many of them are extremely sweet, and the bruises are harmless.

Do you have peach stands near your house? If you have other peach tips to offer, share them with me below!