Botanically named after Persia, the peach actually originated in China and was carried elsewhere in the world through Persia, today's Iran. Carried for example, to the Romans, who seem to have had every Eastern hemisphere food available on command.

The peach was revered by the Chinese who thought it conferred immortality on those who ate it. Curiously the peach tree itself is very short lived, about 20 years. Introduced into the Americas by the Spanish, the peach quickly became a favorite among Native Americans who were growing it well before most of the colonists got around to planting peach trees. Long identified with Georgia, the Peach State, the peach remains a temperate climate fruit of short season that bruises easily, and is thus eagerly anticipated each summer and appreciated for its sweet, warm taste.