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    Home » When are Fruits & Vegetables in Season? » When Does Apricot Season Begin (and End)?

    When Does Apricot Season Begin (and End)?

    Published: May 28, 2015 · Modified: Oct 18, 2023 by Eric Samuelson

    Know how to find the best apricots at the right time of the year with our guide to apricot season.

    When is Apricot Season

    There is nothing like a perfectly, ripe, juicy piece of stone fruit.

    For years I only really ever had peaches or nectarines. I never had anything else growing up. Never a plum, apricot, or cherry.

    As an adult I have certainly expanded my horizons. I have come to know that a really good apricot is truly a treasure. I hope that I can help you find one for yourself.

    Finding a good apricot must start with knowing when they are in season and that all starts with learning where they grow.

    Monstercot Apricots
    This is a bag of early season apricots called Monstercot. They are good unlike most of the apricots from California that you get in the stores.

    ? Where Do Apricots Grow?

    Apricots can be a tricky fruit to grow as compared with other stone fruit. It is blooms before other stone fruit, which means it's more vulnerable to frost damage (here in Michigan that is often in April)

    Places like Georgia and South Carolina that grow a lot of peaches, tend to shy away from apricots. They simply bloom too early and the risk of frost is too great.

    California is much better suited for growing apricots. Their chance for a frost when the apricots are in bloom is much, much lower. This is why California makes up more than 90% of the commercial apricot crop grown in the U.S.

    Most of the other apricots come from Washington with Utah making up less than 1%.

    My home state of Michigan also grows apricots, but it's not a very significant crop nationally as risk of frost damage is high each year. You can find them at farmer's markets and some stores that really focus on local produce.

    I absolutely love locally grown apricots. Michigan doesn't grow a lot of them but when I can get them in my home state, I am so happy!

    ? When Does the Season Begin and End?

    Even thought apricots bloom early than peaches or nectarines, you still find them showing up at stores the same time as peaches and nectarines in late April to early May (For example I bought my first apricots on May 14th in 2015). The California crop wraps up in late July. This is the time of year where most grocery stores will swipe the citrus for the stone fruit.

    The best California apricots are had right at the start of the season. The larger ones you find later in the season tend to be mealy and very unappetizing.

    The Washington apricot season runs from June to August. The month of August pretty much exclusively belongs to Washington. The Michigan apricot season is a little later and shorter than the Washington season, running from July to August with some late varieties ripening in September.

    ?️ What to Look for When Buying Apricots

    The idea that bigger is better does not reign true with apricots. I find that the larger ones tend to be less flavorful and more measly.

    Look for small sizes, which can be hard to find.

    The more red blush you see on the apricots tells you it was exposed to more sunlight, doesn't necessarily mean it's going to taste better.

    ❤️ Special Varieties to Look Out For

    Here are some specificity varieties of apricots you need to be looking out for in your local store.

    Angelcot Apricots

    Angelcots
    These Angecolt apricots are much lighter in color than the apricots you are use to. They taste better to than most store bough apricots.

    Frieda's Speciality Produce releases their Angelcots apricots during the month of . I have been able to find them at Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's and Kroger in past seasons. They are a little colored apricot with honey sweet flavor. I made some awesome jam with this variety last year.

    Angelcot Jam
    I turned my Angelcot apricots into this delicious jam. A former co-worker tried it and loved it so much she wanted to buy some from me!

    Velvet Apricots

    Black Velvet Apricots
    Velvet apricots come in many different colors. They are super sweet.

    Well not a true apricot, a velvet apricot is technically an aprium (an apricot and plum mix), but you will find them labeled as velvet apricots, are amazingly sweet and flavorful pieces of fruit that you can buy mainly in June and July. I have gotten these at Whole Foods and Meijer stores in years past.

    ℹ️nfographic

    Here is a little infographic I made up that is perfect for sharing that will help guide you through apricot season.

    ? Where to U-Pick

    While apricots are not a popular fruit made available for u-pick (unless you are in Yakima, Washington!), there are some orchards will allow for it. Here is our list. Know an orchard missing? Leave us a comment below.

    • Weavers Orchard (Morgantown, PA)
    • West Valley U-Pick (Yakima, WA)
    • All Natural U-Pick (Yakima, WA)
    • Johnson Orchards (Yakima, WA)
    • Two Sisters U-Pick (Fresno, CA)
    • Rennie Orchards (Willamsburg, MI)
    • Brian Ranch U-Pick Orchard (Llano, CA)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melodie womack

      October 19, 2018 at 2:51 pm

      Very very interesting a lot of facts I didn't know about apricots like velvet apricots!! How do you use them? Do you use themlikefor jams and jellies?

    2. Eric Samuelson

      October 22, 2018 at 8:44 am

      Yoou can use the Velvet ones the same way as other apricots. They tend to be sweeter. I have made a good jam with them.

    3. Colleen

      September 03, 2019 at 10:04 am

      Interesting article! I’m in Oregon and this year is the first time my apricot tree has fruit! They are just starting to get color now. It is late in the year so I’m hoping they do ripen and are tasty!

    4. Susan Cowan

      January 04, 2022 at 7:25 am

      Very good article, thank you. I always seem to miss apricot season since moving out of California. I really miss our neighbors apricot trees. I have a question about the "Black Velvet Apricot, (Aprium)" do they taste like an apricot, or more like a plum?? Also, I think I've seen them at the fruit market, but they were labeled as a plum. Could these be "Black Velvets,"??

    5. Eric Samuelson

      January 07, 2022 at 11:58 am

      I am going to say that the plum flavor dominates. It more has the size and shape of an apricot.

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    Nice to Meet You,

    Hi! I'm Eric : Father of 4, living just south of Ann Arbor, MI. I'm a reformed picky eater finding a new way to not conform. Eating what's in season is my jam (I also make it!)

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