Apricot
Available as:
Stemilt Artisan Natural & 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, provides the “Summer Flavor” that only mother nature can deliver! 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 Growers’ banner for organic tree fruits. This label adorns all packaging and price look-up stickers on Stemilt’s organic apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruits.
We began major investments in organic tree fruit production back in 1989. That’s when Stemilt founder Tom Mathison launched his Responsible Choice program, urging growers and company managers to look for ways to conserve natural resources and reduce synthetic materials in all our growing and packing operations.
Since that year, Stemilt has become a national leader in organic tree fruit production and packing:
• Artisan Organics are grown with tree and soil balance in mind.
• Natural tree and soil balance encourages the orchards’ innate defenses, creating tastier fruit that needs no synthetic fertilizers.
• Artisan Organics are farmed 100% organically so there is no residue on the fruit.
• Artisan Organics come from modern orchards that use the latest growing and harvesting techniques.
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics and Artisan Naturals are grown with extreme care. See and taste the difference that our natural farming methods produce.
Check out our Organic Leader page to learn how we grow and pack organic fruit and what makes Stemilt a standout in the organic field!
Stemilt’s stone fruits are truly tree-ripened. No conditioning is used to make Stemilt’s peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots ready to eat. It’s Central Washington’s four distinct seasons that make this all possible.
It starts in the winter when cold temperatures put the trees into a deep sleep. This “resting state” allows the orchards to gain enough energy for excellent fruit production. In summer the trees explode with growth under Central Washington’s sun. Large, high-quality peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots flourish. Then the cool nighttime temperatures bring out the red and yellow hues.
This four-season miracle gets another boost from Stemilt’s natural farming methods. No synthetic or man-made products are used to produce or pack stone fruits. Look for Stemilt’s Artisan Naturals or Artisan Organics labels for peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots for flavor that tastes like sunshine in every bite!