Nectarines are a smooth-fleshed stone fruit that are a close relative to the peach. In fact, nectarines are in the same family, rosaceae, and are cultivars of peaches, possessing a recessive gene that gives them bald skin, firmer flesh, and a denser flavor. Both fruits have either clingstones or freestones, meaning the pits either stay close to the flesh of the fruit or fall out easily, making slicing less messy. Nectarines can be eaten raw, and since the peel isn’t fuzzy, are often eaten out of hand with the center pit discarded (no peeling required). They tend to be slightly higher in price than peaches but comparable.