Plums and peaches are widely grown throughout the temperate latitudes. Most commercial production lies between latitudes 30 ° and 45 ° N and S (Hesse 1975). Plums and peaches have a long history of cultivation, some 2000–4000 years. The peach (Prunus persica) is native to China. For marketing, peaches can be divided into two major types, melting and nonmelting flesh. Melting flesh cultivars soften rapidly at maturity and theflesh usually separates freely from the stone or pit. Fruit are marketed fresh, but in order to handle and transport without damage they are picked early, before full maturity, while they are still firm enough to withstand handling. The flesh of nonmelting fruit has a firm “rubbery” texture even when mature. The flesh remains firmly attached to the stone. Fruits with nonmelting flesh are particularly suited for processing because the flesh retains its integrity and firmness even upon heating.