Apple season is here! While apples are celebrated in the United States in the month of October, North Carolina recognizes the apple annually in September. Now is the perfect time in our state for America's most popular fruit, thus an abundance of apples are filling up the grocery stores, roadside stands, and apple farms. Wherever you choose to purchase this juicy, crunchy fruit, remember some of these interesting facts and teach the kiddos a few next time you bring home a bag full of this nutritious food.
Fun Facts About Apples
- There are over 7,500 different types of apples grown in the world. 2,500 of those varieties are grown in the United States. The only apple native to North America is the crabapple.
- Apples are grown in all 50 states. Washington state is the leading producer of apples in the United States; it grows almost 2/3 of all of the apples grown in the nation. North Carolina is ranked 7th in apple production nationwide.
- The first apple trees in the United States were planted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the pilgrims when they came from Europe.
- Apples are members of the Rose family (yes, the flower!).
- Apples consist of about 25% air which is why they float when dropped in water.
- The country that grows the most apples: China
- A peck of apples is 10.5 pounds; a bushel is approximately 42 pounds.
- The taste of apples can vary depending on how much sugar or acid they contain.
- It takes about 36 apples to make 1 gallon of apple cider.
- The largest apple ever picked weighed three pounds.
- Want to make your apples last longer? Refrigerate them! They last 5-6 times longer than leaving them at room temperature.
- Apple trees can live to be 100 years old!
- The fear of apples is called Malusdomesticaphobia.
Growing Apples
- The science of apple growing is called Pomology.
- Apple trees are usually about 4 or 5 years old before they start producing any apples.
- Each Spring, apples produce flowers or blossoms. In the bottom of each blossom is the ovule which holds seeds. Bees pollinate the flowers so that the seeds will be fertilized and grow. At this point, the white and pink blossoms turn brown, fall to the ground and the apple begins to grow.
- It takes about 4 to 5 months for apples to reach the point where they can be harvested. They must be picked by hand.
- They come in different sizes and are usually red, yellow or green.
- Have you ever paid attention to the small chambers inside an apple where the seeds rest? These spaces are called carpels, and each apple has five carpels. If an apple blossom is well pollinated, the apple that results will contain an average of 5−12 seeds.
- It is important NOT to eat the seeds! They can actually be toxic to your system if chewed up.
Cooking and Nutrition
- The apple peel is very nutritious. Two-thirds of the fiber is found here along with many antioxidants such as vitamin C.
- 1 medium apple has right under 100 calories and 4 grams of fiber (almost 20% of the daily recommended amount).
- Most popular varieties for baking: Fuji, Granny Smith, Yellow Delicious, Red Delicious
- Most popular for making applesauce and apple jelly: Jonathan, McIntosh, Winesap (mainly because of their soft flesh)
- Best for apple cider: Gala and Pippin (because they are crisp and sweet)
