ATLANTA GEORGIA REAL ESTATE
Historically, the Georgia peach has been an emblem of the U.S. South. How and why did a fruit from China end up becoming so popular in Georgia?
After Gone with the Wind and King Cotton’s reign in Georgia, a New South emerged led by pioneers such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jimmy Carter, and even Ted Turner and Jane Fonda. Today, Atlanta is the engine room of the South, directing the South’s economic growth and new cultural attitudes. Through companies such as Coca-Cola, AOL, CNN, and Home Depot, which all keep their headquarters in Atlanta, the world is steadfastly recognizing the intellectual, economic, artistic, and cultural treasures waiting to be untapped in the Peach State. While offering Southern hospitality and delicious food and great music along with the Southern Atlantic beaches, golf, and climate, Georgia gains protection from hurricanes that are often weakened by their transport over land en route to Georgia over Georgia’s immediate southern neighbor, Florida.
What about the Georgia peach? It was the peach of Georgia that stood as a symbol for Georgia’s recovery following the Civil War. First, the peach was a means of creating cash flow for Georgia apart from its over-reliance on cotton. Secondly, the peach was thought to be a great crop for Georgia’s warm climate. More recently, the peach (as a symbol) has expanded its meaning to include Atlanta’s cosmopolitan identity, incorporating cultures from around the world just as Georgia adopted the peach from China. Georgia’s fascination with the peach is evident almost everywhere one looks in Georgia. The word “peach” seems to be present in many of Georgia street names. Georgia is home to the Peach Bowl and Peach Bowl Parade. Georgia is the nation’s third largest producer of peaches (behind California and South Carolina). Peach trees can be found in the backyards of many Georgia homes and are thought to grant peace and safety to the home’s residents.
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