Apples Delicious Snack Option

Apples Naturally Nutritious

Apples are considered a delicious snack option packed with nutritional benefits high in nutritional value. Apples are an edible fruit produced by an apple tree Malus domestica cultivated worldwide bred for various tastes to be used in cooking, cider production, and eating raw. Winter apples are picked in late autumn then stored just above freezing and have been an important food source for Asia, Europe for millennia. Apples were introduced to North America by colonists in the 17th century and the first apple orchard on the North American continent was planted in Boston by Reverend Willam Baxton in 1625. Today there are over 7,500 growers producing apples across all 50 States in the U.S. 2022. Around 4.9 million tons of apples were commercially produced in the United States in 2021 viewed as one of the most valuable crops in the U.S. The 2021 apple crop totaled over 10.5 billion pounds down 5 million pounds from 2019. The actual origin of apples is not clearly known as the apple tree originated between the Caspian and Black Seas. 

There is proof that people enjoyed apples for at least 750,000 years eaten by ancient Romans and Greeks. Early settlers brought back apple seeds with them to cultivate crops for growing. As the United States was settled traders, missionaries and Native Americans transported apple seeds out West. John Chapman also known as Johnny Appleseed an American pioneer nurseryman responsible for the extensive apple tree planting in the MidWest introduced apple trees to parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Ontario, as well as Northern countries of present-day West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive due to his kind generous ways in his leadership in conservation and the symbolic importance attributed to apples spreading apple seeds randomly wherever he went. The United States is the second largest apple producer worldwide behind China followed by France, Poland, and Italy. The U.S. grows 200 apple varieties grown from 5,000 plus apple producers who grow an average of 240 million bushels of fresh apples each year.

Favorite apple types include Red Delicious, Empire, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, Mcintosh, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Rome Crisp, Gala, and Cosmic Crisp apple. One average size apple is 90 calories, naturally sweet including 19 g of sugar, 4.4 g of fiber, 195 mg of potassium, and 2 mg of sodium, per serving. Tour apple orchard festivities in 2022 in your area to go apple picking enjoying the fall season's abundance of freshly grown produce. To help with the annual harvest many apple orchards are open to the public for visitors to pick their own apples often with autumn entertainment. Cumberland Valley has a strong agricultural heritage with an abundance of orchards and farms that invite you and your family to experience the beauty and bounty of each season. Discover more places to find fresh produce packed with fun trip ideas by picking your own fruits and flowers and browsing locally grown foods at the assortment markets in Mechanicsburg.

Start a fun packed weekend at Paulus Farm Market in Mechanicsburg known for its u-pick flowers and pumpkins starting in late June/ early July lasting through the last frost through September into October to pick a beautiful bouquet at an amazing price. Apple can be made into Cinnamon Apple Pie, apple cider, apple butter, dried apples, apple sauce, and other favorite apple recipes.

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

Images Courtesy of JillWellington at Pixbay