PEACHES

The peach comes from a deciduous tree of the rose family. The tree grows 15 to 25 feet high. It grows best in warmer, tropical to subtropical climates as it is susceptible to drought or frost.

PEACHES The peach tree flowers in the early spring before the leaves are visible.

PEACHES Peaches are a stone fruit, meaning they had a single large seed or pit surrounded by juicy flesh. Other common stone fruits are cherries, plums and apricots.

PEACHES Peaches are classified as clingstone or freestone, depending on how the flesh sticks to the seed or stone. Most clingstone varieties are canned, preserved, juiced or used in other processed products. Freestone peaches are generally sold fresh.

PEACHES Peaches are in the yellow/orange & white/tan color groups. The yellow fleshed peach is more popular among Americans and Europeans, while the white-fleshed varieties are preferred in Asia.

PEACHES One medium peach provides: A good source of Vitamin C And a source of Vitamin A.

PEACHES A Slice of Peach History  The peach tree originated in Western China about 4,000 years ago.  Alexander the Great introduced the peach to Greek and Roman society.  From the Mediterranean and North Africa, the peach traveled north during the Middle Ages with the Moors to the Iberian Peninsula.

PEACHES A Slice of Peach History  Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought peaches to the Americas in the 1500’s.  Spanish missionaries and Russian immigrants brought peach seeds to California in the 18 th century.  California’s commercial peach production began in 1849.

PEACHES The United States is the world’s leading grower of peaches. Half of the US crop comes from California and the rest from the southern states.

PEACHES Fun Fact In World War II peach pits were used as filters in gas masks.

PEACHES References on Peaches Children’s Literature James and the Giant Peach By Ronald Dahl Each Peach Pear Plum By Janet and Allan Ahlberg A Peck of Peaches: A Georgia Number Book By Carol Crane Peaches on the Beaches By Brian P. Cleary Growing Seasons By Elsie Splear Peach Boy: A Japanese Legend By Gail Sakurai Tall and Tasty: Fruit Trees By Meredith Sayles Hughes