Peach, season begins in May and ends in October. Peak season for peaches is June, July, and August. California leads the states in production. When buying peaches, look for two things. One look for a creamy yellow background. Second, gently squeeze it in your palm to check ripeness. When fruit gives to little pressure and smells sweet, it's ready to eat.

NECTARINES

Nectarines, are also summer fruit. Nectarines are a member of a rose family and closely related to peaches and almonds. It is one of the oldest of all fruits and apparently grew in China before the time of Christ. Look for a plump fruit with orange-yellow color between the red areas. And gently squeeze it in your palm. When fruit gave to little pressure it is ready to eat. If you buy firm to moderately hard Nectarines, they will ripen normally within 2-3 days at room temperature. Avoid hard, dull, or shriveled fruit.

PLUMS

Plums come in many varieties and most are grown in California; the Casslelman, Red Beaut, and Santa Rosa are some of the good varieties. A plum's ripeness can not be judged by its color because each variety has its own color: Santa Rosa plums are dark purple in color, Red plums are redish-purple, and Black plums are deep purple almost black. Yet all plums should be soft when ripe and never hard. The softer the plum the sweeter the plum.

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