Melocotones

Melocotones, or peaches, are the edible fruits of Prunus persica, a deciduous tree species in the Rosaceae family. The fruit is a drupe with a fuzzy skin, a central stone, and juicy flesh that can be yellow or white.

Native to Northwest China, peaches have been cultivated for thousands of years and spread via trade routes to Persia, the Mediterranean, and Europe. Today they are grown in temperate regions worldwide, with China as the leading producer, followed by the European Union and the United States (notably California and Georgia), as well as Spain, Italy, and Turkey.

Varieties and forms: Common varieties are classified as freestones or clingstones, depending on how easily the flesh separates from the stone. Flesh color ranges from yellow to white. The term nectarine refers to a smooth-skinned peach; both are the same species, Prunus persica.

Cultivation and harvest: Peach trees require warm days and cool nights, frost protection during flowering, well-drained soil, and adequate chilling hours. Harvest occurs in late spring to summer, depending on climate. Post-harvest, melocotones should be stored at cool temperatures; they continue to ripen off the tree.

Uses and nutrition: Eaten fresh, they are a source of vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium, with moderate calories. They are also canned, dried, baked, or used in jams and desserts. Pests and diseases, such as brown rot and peach leaf curl, can affect production.