Blue Velvet Apricot

Blue Velvet isn’t just a movie title; it’s also a delicious type of fruit! The Blue Velvet is a variety of aprium—an apricot and plum hybrid with a sweet and tangy taste. These small fruits are typically a few inches across, with dark blue or purple skin and juicy, orange flesh.

Seasonal Availability

Blue Velvet apricots are only available for a limited season each year. Farmers typically start harvesting them in late May and have them in stock through the middle of summer.

Nutritional Value of Blue Velvet Apricots

Blue Velvet apricots are a hybrid of plums and apricots, two fruits as delicious as they are nutritious. Apricots typically offer two grams of fiber in every 100-gram serving. Each serving also contains vitamins A, E, and K; up to 0.62 mg of iron, which helps your blood transport oxygen; and about 259 mg of potassium, which is key for heart and muscle health.

Fun Facts About Blue Velvet Apricots

• Blue Velvet apricots were originally bred by Kingsburg Orchards. They grow several inter-specific (IS) apricots, which their website says “are in the apricot family, but have been pollinated by plums.”
• Blue Velvet apricots look like plums at first glance because of their dark skin, but they feel soft and fuzzy like apricots.
• Blue Velvet apricots thrive in growing regions with cool winters and warm, dry summers.
• For the full Blue Velvet apricot experience, we recommend eating them fresh.

FAQs

1. 1. Are Blue Velvet apricots genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
      No, they are not genetically modified. Farmers bred them by cross-pollinating apricots and plums.
   2. Can Blue Velvet apricots be eaten fresh?
      Yes! In fact, that’s the best way to savor their sweet-tart flavor and tender texture.
   3. How should I store my Blue Velvet apricots?
      Keep them at room temperature until they’re ripe. Then, store them in the refrigerator to extend their freshness.