Peaches (Flat)

Description/Taste

Donut peaches are medium-sized fruits, measuring 7 to 9 centimetres in diameter, and have a round, flat shape with a dimpled centre at each end. Their thin skins are yellow or orange and flushed with hues of ivory, rose, and rouge covered with a velvety finish. They have white flesh that is soft and juicy, surrounding a non-clinging, easy-to-remove pit. Donut Peaches are low in acid with a candy-like sweetness and notes of almond.

Seasons/Availability

Donut peaches are available in the late spring and through the summer months.

Current Facts

Donut Peaches are botanically classified as Prunus persica var. platycarpa. The name ‘Donut’ was given to the flat peach, thanks to its appearance, by Frieda’s Specialty produce in 1986. The fruit is popular for its unique flattened shape and juicy, sweet flavor. Donut peaches are one of the most recognized flat peach varieties and are sold as a specialty fruit and primarily used for fresh eating. Other flat peach varieties exist under trademarked names like Galaxy or Saturn.

Nutritional Value

Donut peaches are a good source of vitamin C and fiber and are a source of vitamin A and beta-carotene. They also contain potassium, fluoride and iron. Donut peaches are high in the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin.

Applications

Donut peaches are best suited for fresh eating as their tender flesh and juicy nature are showcased when eaten raw. They can be sliced and tossed into green or fruit salads, chopped into salsas, served over cooked meats, or blended into smoothies. They can also be used in any recipe calling for peaches, though they generally lack that sweet-tart flavor of the yellow-fleshed fruits. Donut peaches can be poached, grilled, made into compotes, syrups, and jellies, infused into drinks or added to dessert recipes such as cakes, pies, and ice cream. Donut peaches pair well with other stone fruit such as apricots, cherries, and almonds, citrus, berries, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, herbs such as basil, cilantro, and arugula, hazelnuts, pistachios, aged cheeses such as parmesan, and mild cheeses such as ricotta and burrata. Donut peaches will keep for up to 4 days at room temperature. Once ripe, they can be stored in the refrigerator for an additional 1 to 2 days.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Donut peaches are just one of many flat peach varieties. The original creator of the Donut peach, Jerry Frecon, believes that there are at least twenty different cultivars of flat peaches in existence today. All are descendants of the Pan Tao from China, and each variety has different trademarked names, coloring, and textures. Stark Bros Nurseries in Missouri were the first to have exclusive growing rights and patented Frecon’s flat peach as the ‘Saturn’ during the early 1980s. The first company to trademark the name Donut peach was Frieda’s Specialty Produce in 1986. Once the Stark Bros. license to grow exclusively expired in the early 2000s, more growers had access to grow the novelty peaches. Since then, different cultivars have been developed with yellow flesh, darker skin color and were introduced under names like Sauzee Swirls, UFO peaches, and Flat Wonderfuls.

Geography/History

Donut peaches are descended from a flat peach variety native to China. The original wild variety is known as Pan Tao, or Peento, and was mentioned in Chinese writings during the 12th century B.C.E. Different peach varieties, including the Pan Tao, were carried along the Silk Road to the west, though the flat variety remained a novelty until the 20th century. During the 1960s and 1970s scientists at the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station began to hybridize the fruit, selecting the best qualities and creating a sweeter, juicier peach with a smoother flesh consistency. Today Donut peaches are available at many grocers in the United States and abroad and they can be found at farmer’s markets during the summer months.