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Apple Facts
- China is the largest grower, followed by the U.S.
- Washington State accounts for 60% of the U.S. commercial apple market
- Often made into apple pie, applesauce, apple juice and vinegar.
- High in fiber
- Fermented apple juice becomes Hard Cider
- Fermented and distilled apple juice produces Applejack or Apple Brandy
- Pippin is the name used instead of apple for several tart varieties.
- The Honeycrisp is a new apple originated in Wisconsin.
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The apple is a pomaceous fruit, prized for its high yields and long storage life. Its scientific name is Malus domestica and it is in the rose family Rosaceae. The fruit originated in Central Asia but has wild relatives in the New World. The apple is one of the most popular and widely grown fruits. It is easy to ship, resistant to disease, and popular for its flavor which can be sweet or tart, depending on the varietal. Roughly 60 million tons of apples are produced each year. They are predominately a fruit of northern or temperate climates. In the USA the two leading producers are Washington State and New York State, but internationally China leads the USA in apple production by a large margin. Bees are particularly important in growing apples, as the fruit does not develop unless the blooms are pollinated. An apple tree lives for an average of 60 to 70 years, with some reaching 100. At least 8000 varieties are known, with around 100 being commercially grown in the USA. The numerous varieties are well worth trying, the older and also newer varieties often have more and better flavor than the commonest, mass market varieties. Many people believe that the apples they pick by hand off the trees taste the best. Apples make a good home garden fruit but require well-drained soil and careful pruning. Apples have a long history in art and literature. They are the fruit most often depicted in the Biblical story of Adam, Eve and the Snake and for that reason are widely associated with lust and temptation. Swiss national hero William Tell famously shot an apple off his son's head with his crossbow. Golden apples featured in several Greek myths including the Judgment of Paris, a favorite of Old Master painters.
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Popular Apple Varieties
- Granny Smith Apple
- Gala Apple
- Golden Delicious Apple
- Red Delicious Apple
- Fuji Apple
- Braeburn Apple
- Pinata Apple
- Empire Apple
- McIntosh Apple
- Pink Lady Apple
- Rome Beauty Apple
- Pippin Apple
- Ginger Gold Apple
- Gravenstein Apple
- Honeycrisp Apple
- Jonagold Apple
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Apple Fruit Questions
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Which variety of apple did William Tell shoot off his son's head? 1 AnswerOkay this is real speculation here. So I looked up the William Tell story and found that the event apparently took place on the 18th of November 1307. Then I lo... read more -
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What is your favorite type of apple to munch? 2 AnswersI love Granny Smith apples!! With the slightly sour, crisp taste! Yeah- not much can beat that. It's like eating candy but it's healthy. Shhhh don't let anyone ... read more
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Apple Fruit News
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Apple CEO Steve Jobs joins Schwarzenegger to push organ donor registry
By Lisa M. Krieger Inspired by his brush with death last year, Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Friday made a surprise appearance at Stanford's Lucile Packard ... (March 19, 2010)San Jose Mercury News -
Apple board member Jerome York dies at 71
He joined Apple's board in 1997. York was a former chief financial officer for both IBM and Chrysler, and a former vice chairman of Tracinda. (March 18, 2010)MarketWatch -
Bill Finley: Passing Apple Blossom is right call
By Bill Finley Jess Jackson's decision to pull Rachel Alexandra from the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park was neither a surprise nor an imprudent decision. ... (March 16, 2010)ESPN -
Lawmakers Wnt to Limit Txt Msgs and E-Mails
When the San Jose City Council meets just miles from the Apple and Google campuses, its members shut down all portable electronic devices, as though they ... (March 20, 2010)ABC News
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