Stone fruits can be either clingstone or freestone, with the pit either adhering to or easily removable from the flesh. Many fruit growers breed specific varieties, and while trees are labeled, it can be difficult to distinguish in the market. Peaches are a classic example of clingstone fruit, but many cultivars bear both types. Other stone fruits, such as plums, apricots, cherries, and nectarines, are also available in both configurations. Consumers can ask the grocer or farmer for more information.
A Clingstone fruit is a stone fruit with flesh that adheres to the surface of the pit, sometimes making it difficult to remove. In contrast, a freestone fruit has an easily removable pit, and a semi-clump fruit is a hybrid of the two. Many fruit growers specifically breed fruit varieties with loose or adherent characteristics, as there are advantages and disadvantages to each style. In the market, it can be difficult to distinguish cultivars unless they are clearly labeled.
Before we look into the difference between berries and wild berries, it helps to first know what a stone fruit is. A stone fruit is any type of fruit with a pit or stone in the middle. Some well known examples are cherries, peaches and plums. The stone is actually the seed of the fruit, and if left to develop naturally it can produce a new tree. The tree may or may not resemble the parent, which is why most fruit trees are grown through grafting and cuttings, rather than starting from seed.
The classic example of a Clingstone fruit is the peach. Many readers are undoubtedly familiar with the stubbornly clinging flesh of a stone peach. When a peach is eaten out of hand or sliced for a puree or jam, manipulating the fruit to get the pit out isn’t a big deal. However, when uniform and attractive fruit slices are needed, the adherent pit can be very frustrating. Fortunately, freestone varieties are available for just this need.
The trees are always clearly marked as freestone or clingstone when sold, but this does not help consumers in the market as they cannot see the main tree. In the peach realm, fortunately, many cultivars are known to bear both freestone and stone fruit. Some common freestone peaches include Redtop, Elegant Lady, O’Henry, Angelus, Bounty, Cresthaven, JH Hale and MA White. Many peaches shipped to market are freestone fruit, as consumers tend to prefer them, even though the flavor of hardstone fruit can be more complex than freestone fruit.
In addition to peaches, numerous other stone fruits are available in freestone and clingstone varieties. Plums, apricots, cherries and nectarines are often available in both configurations. If you are not sure whether or not a fruit is a clingstone, ask the grocer about it. At a farmers market, the farmer may also be able to provide additional information about the fruit, such as its history and flavor profile.
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