Fruit

CONTENDER is a very pretty and large freestone peach that is sweet, aromatic and flavorful. The fruit has 70% red blush over a yellow background. It is an excellent freezing or canning peach. Its firm yellow flesh resists browning. It blooms late and is a consistent cropper. It ripens 9 days before Elberta. The tree is hardy and very productive with one of the highest chill requirements at 1050 chill hours. It ripens in mid to late August. This variety is hardy in zones 4-8. It was developed at North Carolina State University.