Fruit Characteristics
The California Peach, Plum & Nectarine Season
California peaches, plums and nectarines are available from April through October. The peak season is June, July and August.
Peach, Plum & Nectarine Varieties
California produces over 600 varieties of peaches, plums and nectarines. Each peach, plum or nectarine is harvested for about ten days, so the varieties available are always changing throughout the season. Fruit breeders put their efforts toward developing delicious varieties that ripen at different times in order to produce a constant supply throughout the season.
Peach & Nectarine Types
While there are many individual varieties, there are two major types of peaches and nectarines:
Yellow Flesh
Yellow peaches and nectarines have a deep yellow background color with splashes of pink or red and deep yellow flesh inside. They are ready-to-eat when they yield to gentle palm pressure and have a balance of sweet and tart flavors. Some like them when slightly firm, when they’ll be a little tarter.
White Flesh
White peaches and nectarines, also known as Summerwhite® varieties, have a creamy yellow background color with splashes of pink or red and creamy yellow flesh inside. They’re naturally less tart and can be ready-to-eat when still firm and crunchy. White peaches and nectarines also ripen faster than their yellow counterparts. About 25% of California peaches and nectarines are Summerwhite® varieties.
Both types will taste sweeter and juicier as they ripen.
Peach & Nectarine Color and Selection
While the red or pink blush of a peach or nectarine is beautiful, it doesn’t tell whether the fruit is ripe. Instead, when checking for ripeness, look for a uniform yellow background color (golden yellow for yellow peaches, creamy yellow for white peaches) with no green around the stem, as well as a fragrant aroma.
Plum Types
Plums generally have tart skin and sweet flesh. As plums ripen and soften, the skin becomes less tart and the flesh sweeter. Some types have sweet skin and sweet flesh.
Plums’ flavor can’t be judged by their color. Whether red, black, purple, yellow or green, each one of the 200 varieties grown in California has a unique flavor profile, so throughout the season there’s always something new to explore. Though there are many varieties, there are two main types: Japanese plums and European plums. Japanese plums are the most widely grown type and are rounded in shape. European plums are oval in shape. While some European plums are sold fresh in the late summer, most are used for making dried plums, also known as prunes.
California peaches, plums and nectarines are a good source of vitamin C. They’re fat and sodium-free and also contain fiber, as well as antioxidants and flavonoids.
Plum Selection
Look for plums that are firm with a little spring and a fragrant aroma.
Clingstone and Freestone
As a general rule, early season peaches and nectarines are clingstone, moving to freestone in the peak season. Late season peaches are generally freestone and late season nectarines return to clingstone. Most plum varieties are clingstone.