Apricot
Available as:
Stemilt & Stemilt Artisan Organic
Facts of Interest: The apricot originated in northeastern China near the Russian border, not in Armenia as the scientific name suggests. It did arrive in Armenia after moving through central Asia, which took about 3,000 years.
The Romans brought it into Europe through Anatolia about 70 BC. While English settlers brought the apricot to the English colonies in the New World, most of modern American production of apricots comes from the seedlings carried to the west coast by Spanish missionaries.
Washington State’s winter dormancy, followed by hot summer days and cool nights, produces fruit that is rich with summer flavor. The dry climate of these areas is best for good fruit production.
Characteristics
Appearance:
Bright yellow to orange, nearly fuzzless, often with a red blush
Texture & Firmness:
Soft flesh
Internal Character:
Bright yellow flesh
Flavor:
Sweet-tart
Shape:
Round to oblong with a prominent suture
Size:
Small to medium
Uses:
Best fresh, but can be used in salads and other recipes that call for them
Artisan Organics is Stemilt’s banner for organic tree fruits. This label adorns all packaging and price look-up (PLU) stickers on Stemilt’s organic apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits.
Stemilt began major investments in organic tree fruit production back in 1989. At the time, farming organically on a large-scale was unheard of, since there were so few organic applications available. Despite the challenges, Stemilt founder Tom Mathison knew there was potential for organics in the marketplace and continued preparing Stemilt for future growth.
Because of Tom’s foresight, Stemilt gradually increased its organic presence, and today, is one of the nation’s leading shippers of organic tree fruits. Try Artisan Organics for a unique flavor experience that only natural farming methods can deliver!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn more about what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Stemilt’s stone fruit is grown primarily in southeastern Washington, where the mighty Columbia River meets two of its biggest tributaries, the Snake and Yakima rivers. It’s here where four true growing seasons make it possible to grow large, vibrant, tree-ripened peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots.
It starts in the winter when cold temperatures put the trees in a deep sleep. This “resting state” allows the orchards to gain enough energy for excellent fruit production. Perfect springtime bloom conditions set-up our trees for the busy growing season. In the summer, long, hot days build the sugars and size, while cool nights bring out the vibrant colors of these fruits.
The four-season miracle gets another boost from Stemilt’s natural farming methods. Our entire peach and nectarine crop, and many of our apricots, are grown organically. Balanced soils and trees combine with our natural pest control methods to create stone fruit with a truly unique summer flavor!