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| Category: Fruits |
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Apricots | ||
 Apricot, common name for a tree of the rose family. The apricot belongs to the family Rosaceae. It is classified as Prunus armeniaca. The fruit, somewhat smaller than a peach, is known for its delicate flavor.Appearance: The tree is small, with heart-shaped leaves on long stalks. Solitary white flowers appear before the leaves, and the fruit, which resembles the peach, is roundish, downy, yellow, and sometimes ruddy on one side, with yellow flesh. Nutrition Fact: Apricots are a good source of vitamin A and are high in natural-sugar content. Dried apricots are an excellent source of iron. It is also good source of fiber (about 2.5 grams for three apricots) and is bursting with potassium (about 300 milligrams in three fresh or eight dried halves). Apricots also provide Vitamin C. History: The apricot (Prunus armeniaca), a relative of the peach, originated thousands of years ago in China. Greek mythology experts believe apricots are the "golden apples" of Hesperides - the fruit Hercules was ordered to pick in the eleventh of his twelve labors. Spanish explorers introduced apricots to California in the 18th century. Native: China Cultivation: The apricot is cultivated in all of Central and Southeast Asia and in parts of southern Europe and North Africa. The leading country in apricot production is Spain. Other important producers are Iran, Syria, the United States, France, and Italy. Origin: The center of diversity of the apricot is northeastern China near the Russian border (in the Great Wall area) not Armenia as the name suggests. From there it spread west throughout central Asia. |