Apricots are extremely perishable, short-seasoned fruits.
They are astonishingly good at their peak and not terribly distinguished at any other time, so many people prefer to stick with the more reliable dried version of the fruit. They should also be fragrant and slightly soft to the touch. Most of the apricots sold fresh here are grown in California. Turkey and Greece are famous for their apricots, which are particularly musky and flavorful and may be purchased dried in American markets. Apricots appear in fresh tarts, cooked into preserves, and as flavorings for soufflees.