Calories in Nectarines

What makes nectarines so powerful?

Nectarines and peaches are genetically nearly identical, sharing the same species, Prunus persica. The only difference is a single recessive gene that controls the production of fuzz on the fruit's skin. A nectarine is not a cross between a peach and a plum, as is commonly believed, but rather a naturally occurring peach variant. Interestingly, peach trees can occasionally produce nectarines, and nectarine trees can sometimes produce peaches, due to spontaneous bud mutations. This genetic closeness means they share a very similar nutritional profile, offering notable amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and dietary fiber. The smooth skin of a nectarine contains concentrations of anthocyanins—the pigments responsible for the red hues—which act as antioxidants in the human body. Because they lack the protective fuzz of a peach, nectarines are more susceptible to bruising and rot, which historically made them more difficult to cultivate and transport. Today, careful handling and refrigerated transport allow them to be widely enjoyed worldwide.