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In 1893, George B. Otis opened up a packinghouse on the south end of Selma where peaches were dried.  In 1911, Libby, McNeill and Libby established a cannery, which helped the self-proclaimed status of “Home of the Peach.”  Further consideration was the fact that the Peak Peach was the major varietal advancement of the peach by John H. Peak when in 1913 he planted an orchard of Phillip peach trees on his Bethel property. A native of Delaware County, N.Y. he had been a Selman since 1890 when he arrived with his wife, baby and $51. In 1916, when Peak was inspecting his first peach crop, he discovered that peaches on one tree were bigger and ripened faster than the other trees.  Samples of the fruit was sent to horticulturalist Luther Burbank who confirmed the significant discovery of a new variety.  Millions of the new Peak Peach were planted in California.  The California Association of Nurserymen with its first merit award honored John H. Peak in 1937.  (

City of selmaUnited statesLuther burbankBob allenGeorgeb otisTroy brockRandall mcfarlandCalifornia community firstSelma chamberCalifornia association of nurserymenPeak peachDelaware countyCalifornia associationTroy peakSun maid raisin plantCoast grower