Nectarine

Nectarines, like peaches, plums and apricots, are a stone fruit. Interestingly, nectarines are a member of the rose family and originated in China over 2,000 years ago. It is thought that they were developed from a peach by natural mutation. Nectarines are identical to peaches with the exception of one gene -- the one that makes peaches fuzzy and the nectarine smooth. After so many generations, the flavor of the nectarine has developed a subtle difference. This one is deep, mellow and smooth with only a slight tang of astringency.  Did you know that California produces over 95% of the nectarines grown in the US?