The Surprising Story of How Peaches Became an Icon of the U.S. Southeast
SMRTR summary
Peaches, originating in China, were introduced to North America by Spanish colonists in the 1500s. Recent studies reveal that Indigenous peoples were instrumental in spreading peaches across the eastern U.S. from 1600 to 1700, outpacing Spanish colonization. The fruit became an important crop for many Native American groups, who cultivated and shared it. This history challenges previous assumptions about peach cultivation in early America and underscores Indigenous agricultural expertise.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Scientific American.
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