Flat peaches are a type of peach with a flattened shape rather than the spherical shape of a standard peach. Most varieties of flat peach have white flesh, though some yellow-fleshed variants are now available. The shape is fairly irregular and the flesh ‘balloons’ out from the centre dimple of the stone. The dimple makes a handy finger-hold while eating, which adds to the appeal of these peaches as a great snack.
The skin of flat peaches is slightly furry, though this does not detract from the eating experience. The flesh is very sweet, without much acid balance, so the flavour tends to be a little one-dimensional: connoisseurs will prefer the complexity of a good standard peach. New varieties of flat peach are expected to offer a better sweet:acid balance.
Flat peaches are generally good value and make a perfect snack food, particularly for lunch boxes and as an alternative to sweets.
Good Fruit Guide Rating: ****
Flat peaches may not be full of flavour, but for sweetness and convenience, they are great.
Flat, sweet, easy.
Names: Prunus persica var. platycarpa; Flat; Donut; Paraguayo; Pan Tao; Saturn.
Varieties: Examples of common varieties are: Carioca; Samantha; Sweet Cap; Paraguayo; Galaxy. In 2017, about 30 different varieties of flat peach were sold in UK supermarkets in a season lasting from week 22 (end May) to week 40 (end of September).
Origin: China, circa 1100 AD. The varieties now used in production are the result of extensive breeding and selection programmes by organisations such as: Agro Selection Fruit (ASF), France; Cep Innovation, France; Zaiger’s Inc. Genetics, California.
- ASF examples: Flatbella, Flatcandy, Flatdiva
- Cep Innovation examples: Platibelle, Platimoon, Platifun
- Zaiger’s examples: Sauzee 660
Grown in: China, USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France
Harvest & Availability: Sources of flat peaches on sale in UK supermarkets:
- January:
- February:
- March:
- April:
- May:
- June: Spain
- July: Spain
- August: Spain
- September: Spain
- October:
- November:
- December:
Websites:
