When Peaches Bakery and Deli opens in late July or early August in the Appleworks building on Ayer Road, patrons will find not only the expected slate of baked goods and deli sandwiches, but a predominance of items that are gluten-free. In fact, said baker, chef, and proprietor Paula Murphy, the menu will be about 75 percent free of wheat and gluten, a boon for those who have been diagnosed with celiac disease.

Peaches will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends, and serve breakfast and lunch, Murphy said. The menu will include breakfast sandwiches, bagels, croissants, pastries, her own gluten-free breads, Nashoba Brook Bakery breads, sandwiches, wraps, salads and soup. She noted that her staff will be trained to prevent any contamination of gluten-free products by those containing gluten.

Murphy, who lives in Shirley, has been experimenting with baking gluten- and wheat-free goods since her husband was diagnosed with celiac disease several years ago. Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s response to certain grain proteins, collectively called gluten, causes damage to the lining of the small intestine. The inherited disorder affects approximately one in every 130 people, according to studies.

Murphy has long dreamed of opening a bakery, she said, but with her husband’s diagnosis, the concept for Peaches formed and she became determined to offer fresh, delicious baked goods for those who need gluten-free alternatives. Generally, said Murphy, wheat- and gluten-free products are more expensive alternatives, but she believes these higher prices are just companies taking advantage of offering a niche product and charging more. She said her prices for her gluten-free products will be very close to those for typical bakery and deli items.

Her journey to opening Peaches has taken about six years, Murphy said. She began by going back to school for business at the same time she was experimenting with wheat- and gluten-free baking. In the meantime, she became an active member of “The Healthy Villi” (www.healthyvilli.com), a Boston-area support group for those with celiac disease. Through the group, Murphy said, she found many willing taste-testers for her newly invented recipes. She said the space formerly occupied by Lisa’s Café is a perfect fit for her new recipes, new business degree, and passion.

She said that she chose the bakery’s name in honor of a niece, whose nickname was Peaches and who died of cancer in December.