What is a freestone peach?

The answer

A freestone peach has a pit that separates easily from the flesh, which makes slicing and baking simpler. In a clingstone peach the flesh grips the pit, and these types are often chosen for canning. Which type you get depends on the variety, so ask the seller if it matters for your recipe. The same terms are used for other stone fruit, such as nectarines and apricots, wherever flesh either clings to or releases from the pit.