A clingstone peach. Photo courtesy
Washington State Fruit Commission.

• Aroma: The peach should smell sweet and perfumey.
• Appearance: The skin should be bruise-free and covered with an even, downy fuzz
• Handle With Care: Peaches are a very delicate fruit. Even if they feel hard, place them on top of all the other groceries in the bag to protect them from blemishes.To speed up the ripening of peaches, use the apple/banana trick in the avocado post below.

  Read the history of peaches: They originated in China.

• Find more of our favorite fruits in our Gourmet Fruits Section.
• Want to cook with peaches? Use the search box at the top of the page (to the right of the red bar) to search for “peach recipe.” You’ll find everything from peach salsa to peach muffins.