Prominent pomologists, such as Luther Burbank, have argued that the nectarine actually predates the peach and that the nectarine, not the peach, represents the ancestral form.

A nectarine is really a distinct fruit all its own. The nectarine and the peach are so similar that there is only one gene that separates the two to make them distinct. The nectarine has one recessive gene … the one with the fuzz.

The best way to ripen firm fruit is to place it in a paper bag, at room temperature, for 1 - 3 days. High heat will actually damage fruit, causing it to become dry and mealy. The sun will cause it to shrivel.

North Carolina Nectarines Growers/Shipper List

Cooling/Storage Requirements of North Carolina Nectarines