It’s that sweet time of the year when stone fruits take center stage bringing their tastiness to market for all to enjoy. Did you know that these summer gems are actually botanical cousins of the rose? They get their name from the pit or “stone” in their center that is encased in a fleshy outer area. Also known as drupes, stone fruits tend to have thin skins that may be fuzzy or smooth. The pit is a large seed that is either cling or freestone, depending how easily the flesh pulls away from the seed. A cling peach has fruit that does not fall off the pit and are fantastic for eating but are not the best for canning and freezing. In contrast, a freestone peach has fruit that falls right off the pit which are perfect for eating, canning, and freezing. At the market, stop by Mizuno Farms who offers a variety of peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and pluots available through mid-September. Mizuno Farms will soon have juicy grapes through mid-October. Tenerelli Orchards is in full swing with its peaches and nectarines both white and yellow flesh plus a mix of plum and pluots available through late October. Keep an eye out for their July Flame peaches, a favorite among yellow fleshed peaches. Get your summer fill!