Contender is one of the more consistent-bearing and cold-hardy varieties of peach grown in Montana. We would rank Contender right behind Siberian in terms of hardiness, as this is the only commercial cultivar that has survived temperatures in the -30s (specifically, -31°F). It also has excellent flavor.

Flavor Notes

Taste notes from our 2022 company tasting of Forbidden Fruit’s Contenders:
“Very yellow. Texture is great. Melts in your mouth. Not fibrous. Able to crush it on your palate. Not too sweet.”
Another noted: “Equally sweet and tart. Not fibrous or stringy. Likes it. Skin gives it a nice touch.”

Freestone. Hardy to zone 4, as they survived our -25°F on 1/13/24 without any damage.

DO NOT PLANT if you are in an area that has the potential to see lower than -32°F.

Tree Details

These Contender trees are grafted onto semi-dwarf Krymsk 86 rootstock, which will make for a 15 ft tree at maturity. Trees are currently roughly 4 ft tall.