The internet is full of fabulous facts about everything from current events to the history basket weaving and peach fun facts. As we research for our daily content on food trucks, food carts and street food, we stumble upon some items of knowledge that we just did not know.

We have decided when these fun facts pop up, that we would share them with our readers in our section titled “Did You Know?”

For today’s Did You Know we will look at Peach fun facts.

Peach Fun Facts: The peach originated in China and has been cultivated at least since 1000 B.C.E. It has special significance in Chinese culture: the peach has mystical attributes, and supposedly brings luck, abundance and protection.

  • The Romans called the peaches “Persian Apples” naming them after the country that introduced peaches to the West.
  • Spaniards brought peaches to South America and the French introduced them to Louisiana. The English took them to their Jamestown and Massachusetts colonies. Columbus brought peach trees to America on his second and third voyages.
  • China is the largest world producer of peaches, with Italy second.
  • California produces more than 50% of the peaches in the United States (and grows 175 different varieties).
  • So many peaches are grown in Georgia that it became known as the Peach State.
  • True wild peaches are only found in China. Unlike the cultivated fruit, the wild fruit is small, sour and very fuzzy.
  • You can ripen peaches by placing them in a brown paper bag for two to three days.
  • Nectarines are a variety of peach with a smooth skin, not a cross between a peach and a plum.
  • Like the plum and the apricot, the peach is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae), distinguished by its velvety skin. It is classified as a drupe, a fruit with a hard stone.
  • The term, “you’re a real peach” originated from the tradition of giving a peach to the friend you liked.
  • Peaches are the third most popular fruit grown in America.
  • The United States provides about one-fourth (25%) of the world’s total supply of fresh peaches
  • The World’s Largest Peach is located in Gaffney, South Carolina, and weighs over 10,000 pounds.  The city of Gaffney, near Greenville, built this water tower in the shape of a peach back in 1981.

Key Dates

  • June 21st is National Peaches and Cream Day.
  • July 17th is National Peach Ice Cream Day.
  • August 22 is National “Eat a Peach” Day.
  • September 16th is National Peach Pie Day.

Peach Fun Facts We Missed

Let us know if we may have missed any peach fun facts in the comment section or our food truck forum. We always love to add to these lists. If we can verify that the facts is just that, a fact, we will give the reader credit in the article.

Reference: Wikipedia: Fun Facts about Peaches.

Find all of the National Food Holidays to spice up your food truck menu specials throughout the year.