Top Peache and Nectarine Producing Countries

China is by far the leading producer of peaches and nectarines, accounting for more than half of the world’s output, followed by Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the United States. Peaches (Prunus persica) originated in northwest China over 4,000 years ago, where they were first domesticated and selectively bred for sweetness and size. The cultivation of peaches spread westward along the Silk Road, reaching Persia (modern Iran), which is reflected in their scientific name, and from there to the Mediterranean and Europe by the Romans. Nectarines, a smooth-skinned mutation of the peach, have been cultivated alongside peaches for centuries, with records of their existence dating back to ancient China and Persia as well. Today, the Mediterranean climate of southern Europe and the temperate regions of the United States, particularly California, provide ideal growing conditions, making these countries major exporters of peaches and nectarines. The global spread and improvement of these fruits reflect centuries of agricultural exchange and selective breeding.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat