Apricots

History History Apricots originally came from China. Cuttings of this golden fruit made their way across the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean where they flourished. The Spanish explorers get credit for introducing the apricot to the New World, and specifically to California, where they were planted in the gardens of Spanish missions. In 1792, in an area south of San Francisco, the first major production of apricots was recorded. Apricots Today More than 400 growers produce apricots from orchards covering 21,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley and northern California. About 95 percent of the apricots grown in the U.S. come from California. Many different varieties grow in California, each with special characteristics. The most prevalent varieties are the Pattersons, Blenheims, Tiltons, and Castlebrites. Growers continually experiment with new varieties that deliver sweet, juicy flavor and ship or process well. Source: California Apricot Apricots Farmers Gerawan Farming Gerawan Farming has been family owned and operated since 1938. More... Season, Ripeness and Storage State Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Arizona                         California                         In-Season   Season The harvest period typically begins in May and ends in early July. Ripeness Choose apricots that have a beautiful blush and are firm in texture. Apricots are orange-yellow when ripe. Storage If you want to ripen immature apricots, keep them in a brown paper bag. Keep them at room temperature until they are slightly soft.