For the most part our peaches will need a day or two on the counter to ripen unless you're lucky enough to find a perfectly soft tree ripened peach while doing U-Pick. Such a treat!
At the farmers market and farmstand we usually say those peaches will need 2-3 days to ripen.
Why?
Perfectly ripe peaches will bruise, get dents or have the skin tear off in the box on the way to the market. Usually whoever is picking has a separate box lid for perfectly ripe peaches and we (Robson's Farm staff) take them home at the end of the day.
The more orangey-yellow a peach the riper it is. The more lime green-yellow the less ripe. When picking you want to go for the fruit that has the darkest color, smells peachy and if possible has a little give when you give it a squeeze.
To ripen peaches simply sit them on counter.
You can use a brown bag if you'd like but not plastic. They need to breath.
Once the peaches are soft when you give them a squeeze, they're ready to be eaten and/or moved to the fridge if you can't eat them all at once.
Ripen first then move to the fridge.