Most cultivated apricots belong to the species Prunus armeniaca that originated in Central Asia.
The history of apricot cultivation dates back thousands of years in Asia.
The expansion of apricots into Europe especially Greece, was fostered by Alexander the Great and Romans general named Lucullus, who brought a series of fruit tree species to the European continent from adjacent Asian territories.
Pliny, about the time of Christ, mentions the fruit as a Roman fruit. The classical Romans called it praecocum, meaning ‘the precocious one’, because it blossomed very early.
Apricot culture was introduced in the Mediterranean region from Iran or Armenia around the first century BC, although more recently new introductions were made from the Middle East, especially into Southern Europe.
A result of trading and commerce, apricots were introduced into England in 1592.
The fruit was introduced to United States in the 17th century.
History of apricots in Europe
