In a report from 1913 it was estimated that over 340,000 tons of peaches were grown in California during the previous year, ranking the delicate fruit below grapes and oranges. The origins of peaches in the Sacramento Valley go back to 1851 when an Oregon nurseryman travelled to Northern California with fruit trees for sale. Though Col. Warren of 'California Farmer' fame listed 20 varieties of peach trees in his premier nursery catalog in 1853, pioneer gardener A. P. Smith reportedly sold the first peaches in Sacramento for around two dollars a pound that same year. Famous Sacramentan Joseph Routier had a peach named after him that was introduced to the market by W. P. Strong & Co. prior to 1889.
