The peach is native to China and is now cultivated around the world. The fruit has a velvety skin and sweet, juicy flesh with a hard pit in the center. There are many varieties of peach, divided into two basic categories: cling (the pit adheres firmly to the pit) and freestone (the flesh falls away easily from the pit). Flesh color varies as well, and is either white or yellow. Peaches are typically eaten plain or used in fruit salads and desserts.
Peaches contain vitamins A and C, antioxidants which offer health benefits including reduced risk of heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. To provide additional nutritional benefits, peach juice can be added to processed foods, beverages, desserts, and other food products.