Products : Fruits : Apricot

The apricot tree is a fruit-bearing, long-lived, deciduous tree and belongs to the genus Prunus (Prunami[a]) of the Rhododendron family. In Cyprus, the tree is known as chrysomilia.

It is native to East Asia and the Himalayas, from where it was transported to the rest of Europe via Armenia, hence its scientific name Prunus armeniaca (Prunus armeniaca). It must have been known in China, because there are references in books where in 2200 BC it was called Singh.

Apricot is the fruit of the apricot tree (scientific name prunus armeniaca) of the rose family.

It originated in northern China, Manchuria and Mongolia and came to Europe from Armenia, where it got its name. Its cultivation was known in China from 2,200 BC and seems to have been brought to Greece by Alexander the Great.

The name "apricot" comes from the ancient Greek word praecocion, which in turn comes from the Latin praecocia (praecoquus) meaning "early", because the fruit ripens early. From the Greek word, the Arabic word berkuk (from al-barqūq, which comes from the Byzantine word berkoukia) is also derived.

It is fleshy, spherical, with a grooved ventral suture. The kernel (pith) is woody and contains 1-2 bitter-tasting almond-like seeds inside, which are used in pharmacopoeia.The fleshy and juicy pericarp is tasty, sweet and orange-yellow in colour. The outside of the apricot (skin) is thin, usually fluffy and yellow in colour with some red spots on the front side.

It is rich in vitamin A and potassium. It also contains vitamins C, B1, B2 and natural sugar. Apricots are also rich in fiber. Apricots are eaten fresh as a fruit. It can also be eaten dried, made into jam, compote, used in confectionery and made into liqueur and juice.

Turkey has the largest production in the world. It is followed by Iran, Uzbekistan, Italy, Algeria, Algeria, Pakistan, France, Morocco, Syria and Spain. Greece produces over 45,000 tonnes on average per year.

Period during which First Fruit Stand markets apricots: May - September.