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World record peach and more

The world record 2,346 pound pumpkin we reported on last month isn't the only fruit to break a world record this fall. Henry Chile's, fifth‑generation grower, late‑summer harvest has set a juicy new benchmark - the world's heaviest peach. It was grown at Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet, Virginia, an agritourism U-pick farm and farm market.

The peach tipped the scales at 828.5 grams, or 1 pound 13 ounces, roughly five to six times heavier than a typical medium peach, earning official recognition from Guinness World Records on September 10, 2025. The peach measured 6 inches tall and 15.5 inches in circumference, making it bigger than a softball.

The record‑breaking peach was a PF‑27A variety, a late‑season yellow freestone peach known for large fruit size, good flavor, and firmness suitable for both fresh eating and shipping. The PF‑27A variety is commonly grown in commercial orchards in the eastern United States because it ripens relatively late, extending the peach season.

Chiles and his orchard team did not rely on special techniques. Instead, the giant peach grew with standard commercial practices such as careful pruning, crop thinning, and diligent pest and disease management, combined with a dose of favorable weather. A spring frost reduced the number of blossoms on the tree, decreasing competition, while well‑timed summer rains and heat helped the remaining fruit dramatically increase in size.

A pumpkin and a peach weren't the only fruits setting world records this year. Here's a list of all the new world records for the heaviest fruits.

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