The bonny royal apricot is a freestone stone fruit, meaning the hard pit will easily separate from the surrounding pulp when ripe. The bonny royal is a proprietary variety of apricot developed through open pollination at Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, California. Zaiger filed their patent for the Bonny tree in April of 1998, they were granted the patent a few years later.

Bonny royal apricots range from medium to large in size, with a medium thick skin. These apricots have light orange to a true orange skin color and yellow to light orange pulp. The coloring around the pit cavity ranges from a light orange to a much richer color closer to the cavity. Bonny royals have a strong, favorable aroma with sweet, honey notes. Bonny royal apricots ripen evenly and maintain a firm texture when ripe.

Serving Ideas

Bonny royal apricots are good for fresh eating and shine in dessert dishes. This variety of apricot also is great for canning, holding their shape, color and attractiveness after gong through the canning process. Fresh bonny royal apricots store well and are suitable shipping to local and long distance markets.

Geography/History

The Bonny variety of apricot tree was developed in Zaiger Genetics experimental orchard located near Modesto, California. The trees were grown from seed collected from an open pollinated apricot seedling of unknown parentage, and the resulting tree was patented in the late 1990s.

Seasons/Availability

Bonny royal apricots are available in the early summer.