Raspberry Red Nectarines
Estimated Inventory, cs : 0
Description/Taste
Raspberry Red nectarines are a small to medium-sized varietal and have a round to slightly oval shape with a uniform, curved nature. The variety features a prominent seam extending the length of the fruit, and the skin is semi-smooth, taut, and firm with a light texture. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Raspberry Red nectarines is their yellow-brown speckled skin. It is said that speckles on nectarines generally indicate the sugar content within the flesh. The more speckles there are, the sweeter the taste. Raspberry Red nectarines also feature variegated shades of burgundy, red, and purple-red hues underneath the speckling, giving the variety a unique appearance. The fruit’s flesh showcases pale yellow to ivory hues and is occasionally flushed with red striping. The flesh is aqueous, soft, tender, melting, and succulent when ripe, and the brown central stone does not stick to the flesh, making it easy to remove. Raspberry Red nectarines will release a fruity, sweet aroma when ripe and are edible raw once mature. Ripe fruits have a rich, complex, and fruity sweetness, balanced with a pleasant tartness, giving the fruits a sweet and tangy taste reminiscent of raspberries.
Seasons/Availability
Raspberry Red nectarines are typically harvested in the summer, from late July through August in California.
Current Facts
Raspberry Red nectarines, botanically classified as Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Raspberry Red,' are a specialty variety belonging to the Rosaceae family. The cultivar was developed in California and was selected as a favored home garden tree for the fruit’s unusual coloring and sweet-tart flavor. Raspberry Red nectarines are grown on trees reaching around four meters in height and require approximately 800 to 1000 chilling hours, which are the number of hours in a cold temperature range needed for flowering and fruit production. The variety is also a type of freestone, meaning the central stone in the center of the fruit does not remain tightly adhered to the flesh. Raspberry Red nectarines acquired their name from their sometimes red pigmented flesh, colored skin, and distinct sweet-tart taste, said to be reminiscent of raspberries. The variety is viewed as the nectarine version of red-fleshed peaches and is valued by home gardeners as a novelty. Chefs and home cooks appreciate Raspberry Red nectarines for their rich flavor and versatility in raw and cooked culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Raspberry Red nectarines have not been studied for their nutritional properties. In general, nectarines are a fiber source to stimulate the digestive tract and vitamins C and E to guard the cells against free radical damage and strengthen the immune system. Nectarines also provide minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Calcium and phosphorus support bone and teeth health, while magnesium assists in daily nerve functions. Potassium balances fluid levels within the body and helps replenish electrolytes. Other nutrients, including copper, manganese, and zinc, appear in low quantities.
Applications
Raspberry Red nectarines have a sweet-tart taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is commonly eaten out of hand to savor its rich flavoring and juicy, melting flesh. Raspberry Red nectarines are also sliced and served as a topping over breakfast dishes like porridge, yogurt, and pancakes, or it is displayed as an accompaniment to cheeses and dried fruits on charcuterie boards. Try slicing nectarines into green salads and slaws or mixing them into fresh salsa. Raspberry Red nectarines are also blended into smoothies or pureed and frozen into homemade ice cream and sorbet. In addition to raw preparations, Raspberry Red nectarines are popularly made into preserves. The sweet-tart flesh can be simmered into sauces for roasted meats, or the fruits can be sliced into wedges and cooked as a side. Raspberry Red nectarines are occasionally used as a specialty ingredient in desserts like crumbles, crisps, bars, tarts, and pies, and are often combined with other fruits for complexity. The variety can also be halved and baked to develop a caramelized surface or pan-fried, served with ice cream, mascarpone, or whipped cream as decadent treats. Raspberry Red nectarines pair well with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, lavender, fruits like pomegranates, blueberries, peaches, plums, and blackberries, pistachios, and cheeses including goat, burrata, and blue. Whole, unwashed Raspberry Red nectarines should be ripened at room temperature. Once mature and soft, immediately consume for the best quality and flavor. Nectarines can also be stored in the refrigerator's crisper drawer for 3 to 5 days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The California Rare Fruit Growers, CRFG, is the world's largest amateur fruit growing organization. The Santa Clara Valley chapter created Raspberry Red nectarines, and membership in the organization is increasing each year. The internationally recognized and respected organization was created in the late 20th century from an idea sparked over a phone call between growers Paul Thomson and John Riley in 1966. The two met shortly after the call at Thomson’s home in Bonsall, California, and Riley was inspired by the unusual tropical fruit trees being grown in Thomson’s garden. They eventually decided the state needed an organization to gather gardeners and orchardists together to learn how to develop interesting plants. Two years later, in 1968, the California Rare Fruit Growers organization was born. The state was split into two parts, dividing the areas along the line where tropical crops could be grown in the southern regions, and members began writing articles to publish in a group magazine to share news and information. Over time, the two regions were further divided into various chapters to help keep the groups more manageable in size. The California Rare Fruit Growers chapters have continued to expand, and each chapter works to bring awareness to rare fruits in its designated region.
Geography/History
Raspberry Red nectarines were developed in California by the California Rare Fruit Growers, or CRFG, Santa Clara Valley chapter. Santa Clara Valley is in Northern California, and the CRFG chapter was established in the early 1980s. Within this chapter, a hybridizer group collaborates to create new varieties with complex, superior flavors for home gardeners. Raspberry Red nectarines were one of the first nectarine varieties created through the group and were produced from a cross of a French, red-fleshed peach from the Kennedy collection with a white-fleshed California nectarine variety. The product of this cross was then re-crossed several times to create the fruits available today. Raspberry Red nectarines are a specialty variety only grown on a small scale and are primarily found in home gardens. Scion wood for the cultivar is available directly through contracted nurseries in Washington and California, and the California Rare Fruit Growers. When in season, the fruits are sold through growers or local farmers’ markets as a rare, fresh-eating fruit.
