Here are today’s five things to know about the apricot:

• In Latin, apricot means ‘precious’.
• The apricot, discovered about 4,000 years ago in China, was introduced to the United States in the 18th century.
•  Brought to California by Spanish explorers, the apricot quickly became a popular crop.
• Today, apricot farmers in California produce more than 95 percent of the apricots grown in the United States.
• Choose an apricot that’s plump and that responds to the slight pressure of your thumb. It should be slightly soft.