Stone Fruits

All species of genus Prunus in the rose family, defined by a stone-hard shell surrounding a single large central seed. Mostly Asian in origin, with ~15 species found across the northern hemisphere. The critical difference from their pome fruit relatives: stone fruits do not store starch — they cannot get sweeter after harvest. Ripening continues post-harvest (softening, aroma development), but the sugar level is locked in at picking. This makes them more seasonal and more dependent on good sourcing than the storable, sweetening pome fruits.