The Peach (Prunus persica), is the fuzzy-skinned peach of the family Rosaceae, and is thought to have originated from China. It has been known for more than 2,000 years and grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In tree shape and leaf characteristics the peach and nectarine are indistinguishable, but peaches have the characteristic fuzz on the skin, rather than the smooth plum like skin of the nectarine.Peach is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus within the genus Prunus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell.

Peaches are characteristically thought of as yellow fleshed, but there are red fleshed and white fleshed varieties also. They are also characterized by the term cling stone, meaning the flesh adheres tightly to the pit or stone, and free stone, where the flesh separates easily from the pit.

On average, peaches are slightly larger than nectarines. The white fleshed varieties are most popular in Asian countries, and typically are lower in acid and sweeter than the yellow fleshed varieties. In California, the predominant peach producing and processing state in the USA, about 20% of the varieties are white fleshed.

Peaches of all varieties provide very good sources of carotenes (Vitamin A), potassium, flavonoids, and natural fruit sugars for sweetness.

They are also good sources of vitamin A precursors, B carotene, B Cryptoxanthin, Lycopene, and Lutein which provide the red, orange, and yellow colors to fruits and vegetables. These phytochemicals are beneficial in the maintenance of a healthy heart function, healthy macular condition and overall cellular health.

Encore Fruit Marketing can provide an excellent source of IQF peach to help consumer products deliver one of the 5 A Day fruit servings, with excellent fruit nutrition, and a refreshing taste of Summer from peaches.

IQF peach is carefully processed from fresh, ripened peachs to provide the essential fresh peach flavor and nutrition, in a convenient, ready to use ingredient form for processed beverage and food applications. [IQF peach is an excellent ingredient to add a fruit serving to your retail label for beverages, cakes, pies, pastries, sauces, jellies and other processed foods like nutrition bars and snacks.

Contact Encore Fruit Marketing today for product samples and information on IQF peach at www.encorefruit.com or Click Here to use our convenient Contact Form.