Essential Peach Receipe
- The peach belongs to the rose family
- China is the original home of the peach tree
- California gold miners were the first to commercially farm Cling Peaches
- There are two categories of peach, Clingstone and Freestone, distinguished by the ease with which the edible area pulls away from the stone (pit)
California Cling Peach Industry
- California Cling Peaches are the variety most commonly used for commercial canning as they are exceptional in their ability to retain their flavor and consistency
- Almost all Cling Peaches are processed and rarely found fresh
- In 2001 California harvested 470,000 tons of Cling Peaches
- Butte, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare and Yuba counties produce most of the state’s Cling Peaches
- California’s climate provides an ideal setting for peach trees, which require a chilling season followed by warmer days combined with rich soil and adequate water to produce the most flavorful fruit
- Pruning is usually done in winter and thinning in spring to deliver the premium-sized fruit at harvest
- Harvest commences at the end of June in the San Joaquin Valley to the south and comes to an end after Labor Day in the Sacramento Valley to the north
- Peach trees are usually planted with a minimum density of 121 trees per acre, their leaves nearly touching
- Each acre produces an average of 18 tons of Cling Peaches per year
- The California Cling Peach Board was established to promote California Cling Peaches domestically and internationally through the use of industry standards, education, research and innovation
- If you’re interested in additional industry information, please visit our Cal Cling Peach Industry section
The Canned Advantage
- Results of several nutrition studies show that canned fruit are as nutritious as their fresh and frozen counterparts
- Canneries operate seven days a week throughout the harvest so that the fruit retains all the nutritional value and flavor
- In most cases, peaches are canned within 24 hours
Nutrition and Flavor
- They contain vitamin C, an antioxidant, which boosts the immune system, promotes healing and builds strong connective tissue to stabilize bones
- Well-balanced diets, rich in fruits and vegetables, including California Cling Peaches, reduce the risk of many types of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke and even premature aging
- Sweet, juicy and ready to eat, canned California peaches are an all-American family favorite
- Visit our Nutrition & Health section for more information