Apples are by far one my most favorite fruits, which is probably why I love the fall so much. Growing up in the New Hampshire mountains, there was nothing I would rather do than pick McIntosh and Granny Smith apples with my family, then go home and have a cooking spree. Between our homemade apple sauces, apple crisp, apple pie, apple fritters, tarts and salads, we would go pretty fruity. Apples are a New England tradition, but that wasn’t always the case. Anyways, before you take a bite out of this fruit, here are some great crunchy facts.

Why Apples Rock

A Brief History
Apples are said to have originated from a region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.  They were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have been present in the mythology and religions of many cultures, including Norse, Greek and Christian traditions. There are over 2,500 kinds of apples that are grown ever year in the US, but crab apples are our only native species. So, here’s your first 8 reasons to love apples . . . 

1. The largest apple ever grown weighed 3 pounds, the smallest can be about the size of a cherry.

2. Apples take four to five years to create their first fruits

3. Apples will ripen six to ten times quicker if kept at room temperature than if they are refrigerated.

4. Apples are actually members of the rose family. That’s why their flowers smell so sweet in the spring!

5. The countries that produce the most apples (in order) are China, the US, Turkey, Poland and Italy. In total, apples comprise 50% of international deciduous fruit tree production.

6. A peck of apples is about 10.5 pounds. A buschel is close to 42 pounds and To make one gallon of apple cider you need 36 apples. An average apple tree produces enough apples to fill 20 boxes that weigh 42 pounds each.

7. An average person eats 65 apples per year.

8. Being apple to successfully shoot an apple off a child’s head was a feat of marksmanship in bow and arrow.

 An Apple a Day . . .

So first and foremost, eating organic, GMO-free apples is a complete must! What’s the point of eating something so healthy for you if you are going to fill your body with unnecessary chemicals? Apples are known to be one of the most nutritious fruits (as I explain in my facts below). The USDA says in addition to the 81 percent of conventional apple orchards which spray organophosphates on apple orchards, carbamates and pyrethroids are also used nation wide (on 35% and 29% of fields, respectively). Chlorpyrifos, a chemical linked to lower IQ and higher incidence of ADHD  in children is also still sprayed on 59 percent of apple orchards in the U.S., endangering entire communities and those children living in rural areas. More reasons to love apples . . . 

9. Eating an apple before bed can help cleanse your teeth and is said to be able to whiten your teeth. The skin of the apple is the healthiest part. The most anti-oxidants (including Quercetin) are found in the skin. Why

10. Mom was right! An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Nutritionally, apples contain no fat, no sodium and no cholesterol. They are a good source of fiber and…… A medium sized apple contains 80 calories, but be careful! Apple Juice in young children may cause diarrhea.

11. Are apples a brain food? Yes! Apples contain high levels of boron, which stimulates electrical activity of the brain and increases mental alertness.

12. Apples may not be rich in calcium, but its high levels of boron make it a great food to prevent osteoporosis and strengthen bones. These fabulous fruits also have the ability to boost estrogen levels in menopausal women.

Still can’t enough information about Apples? Green Diva Meg went to Alstede Farm to pick apples last year and wrote about her trip, including her delicious Apple Crisp recipe. Get cooking and get picking!

apple image via shutterstock
apple w/ heart image via shutterstock