PEACH

The peach is considered the “Queen” of the fruits and second only to the apple in popularity as a deciduous tree fruit because of its fine flavor and many uses as a fruit. The peach is a member of the Rosaceae “Family of Flowering Plants” (Rosaceae; Rose, Peach, Apple, Pear, Strawberry family). The peach was first cultivated in China. Peaches go back to approximately the 10th B.C. and are often found in illustrations from that time. Peach seeds were carried all over the world. The peach was known in Greece by 300 BC and by the Romans shortly after 100 AD. Peaches grow best in warm climates like the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. Spanish missionaries planted the first peach trees in California. In the early 1800's, peaches began to be grown commercially in the United States and fruit has been thriving ever since. The United States provides about 30% of the world's total supply of fresh peaches. Fruit Patch is the largest supplier of fresh peaches in the United States.

Variety

There are hundreds of different peach cultivars (varieties), but basically there are two types, the freestone and clingstone. The “stone” is the pit in the middle of the peach. In freestones types, the flesh separates readily from the pit. In the clingstone type, the flesh clings tightly to the pit. The flesh may be either yellow or white. Freestone types are usually preferred for eating fresh or for freezing, while clingstone types are used primarily for canning. Most fresh peaches available in your produce department are freestone. Two of the most popular varieties Fruit Patch grows are Elegant Lady and O-Henry. These two peaches are yellow flesh varieties.

Nutrition Facts