Apricot in United States

The apricot originally hails from China. Legend has it that it was brought to the west by Alexander the Great.

Early Spanish explorers are credited with introducing apricots to California.

In 1720 British explorers George Vancouver found that the apricot growing in Spanish mission gardens of Santa Clara.

Thomas Jefferson set out apricot trees in his orchard at Monticello as early as 1778. The first major production of apricots in the United States was recorded in California in 1792.

After the gold rush, the world’s largest apricot industry developed in areas relatively free of spring frosts, which is the limiting factors for commercial production east of the Rockies.

By 1920 apricot production was a major industry in California. California continues to be leading apricot producing state in the United States.

California produces about 90 percent of all apricots grown in the United States. Only 10 percent is sold fresh since the fruit does not hold up well after it is picked.
Apricot in United States

Apricot during ancient times

Records showing that apricot has been consumed in China for thousands of years. It was discovered 4,000 years ago on the mountain slopes of China, where the fruit was first cultivated.

By 600 BC apricots were a major fruit staple in China, eaten fresh, dried, salt-cured or smoked.

Alexander the Great is believed to have brought the apricot from China to Greece and ultimately to Western civilization.

Apricots have long been a prized commodity in Persia and the Persian called apricot “egg of the sun.”

In Central Asia, apricot cultivation was introduced around 1-2 millennia BC. The Apricot tree was called by the Romans Armeniaca, the tree of Armenia. The Latins also named the apricot precocious, because it ripens at the beginning of summer in June before other fruits.

Wines and distillates made from both cultivated and non-domesticated apricot are traditional beverages in parts of both Europe and Asia.

The apricot tree was first brought to England in 1524 by Woolf the grander to Henry VIII. Apricot oil was used against tumors and ulcers in England in the 1600s. Apricot seeds contain the highest amounts of these cyanide-generating compounds and the controversial cancer drug laetrile is derived from this source.

Apricots probably moved to the United States through English settlers on the East Coast and Spanish missionaries in California.

Apricot during ancient times

Folklore of Apricot

The apricot flower is symbolic of doubt in the “language of flower.” Also, the apricot has been used to symbolize female genitalia, similar to the peach and other stone fruits.

In ancient times, the Persian called apricot “seed of the sun.”

Chinese legends ascribed prophetic powers to the Confucius is said to have worked out his philosophy under an apricot tree.

In Hunza, a small kingdom on he Himalayas, the long life and the robust health of the people to be due to apricots.

Throughout the world apricot is considered to be among the most delectable of all fruits, with flowers, fruit and tree playing parts in various traditions of diverse human culture. Fruits are used in both fresh and dry form, canned or otherwise preserved as jam and marmalade or pulp.

Wines and distillates made from both cultivated and non-domesticated apricot are traditional beverages in parts of both Europe and Asia.

As with all stone fruits, apricot leaves, flowers, and especially seeds and bark contain toxic compounds that generate cyanide, which is of course toxic or lethal in large doses.

However, in the plant tissues, the cyanide concentration is low enough to be considered therapeutic, particularly for cancer (tumor) treatment has been used for this purpose since at least 25 BC.

Apricot oil was used against tumors and ulcers in England in the 1600s. Apricot seeds contain the highest amounts of these cyanide-generating compounds and the controversial cancer drug laetrile is derived from this source.

Treatment is based on the theory that the apricot pit extract breaks down to release cyanide but only when in contact with beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme active in tumor cells.

The cyanide is released preferentially at tumor sites, killing cancerous cells.

The apricot tree was called by the Romans ‘Armeniaca’, the tree of Armenia, where it originated. And the Latin also named the apricot ‘praecocia’. It was because it ripens at the beginning of summer before other fruits.
Folklore of Apricot

Origin of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)

Origin of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
The center of diversity of the apricot is northeastern China near the Russian border.

From there it spread west throughout Central Asia. Cultivation in China dates back 3,000 years and movement to Armenia and then to Europe from there, was slow.

It was known in China as far back as 658 BC and in Europe 406-250 BC.

Alexander the Great brought apricot from Asia to Greece and from there it was taken to Rome.

The Roman introduced apricots to Europe in 70-60 BC through Greece and Italy.

Apricots moved to the United States through English settlers on the East Coats and Spanish missionaries in California.

For much of their history of cultivation, apricots were grown from seedlings and few improved cultivars existed until the nineteenth century.

Cultivars vary among countries and in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria a great deal of the production is from seedling orchards.
Origin of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)