It’s Apple Season

Sept. 29, 2021

By Wendy Kaplan, MS, RDN, CSO, CDCES, CDN

Did you know that 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States? Although apples are available year-round, fall is the season for apple-picking—a fun-filled family activity.

Here are a few more fun facts about apples:

    Apples ripen 6-10 times faster at room temperature than refrigerated.
    Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, and yellows.
    Apples are grown in all 50 states.
    Apples do not have fat, sodium, or cholesterol.
    A medium apple is about 80 calories.
    Apples contain 5 gm of fiber. Eat the peel! It contains two-thirds of the fiber as well as most of its phytonutrients.
    The world’s top apples producers are China, United States, Turkey, Poland, and Italy.
    Almost 1 out of every 4 apples in the United States is exported.
    The apple is the state fruit for Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

Here are some ways to enjoy apples:

    Slice up and pair with peanut or almond butter.
    Have a tasting - cut up a few varieties (*see table), taste, and compare.
    Make applesauce or chutney. Spice it up with cinnamon and raisins.
    Make apple nachos. Slice up, drizzle on, and add toppings such as yogurt, cinnamon, crushed peanuts, raisins, and honey.
    Bake them.
    Add to salads (kale, fennel, fruit, etc.)
    Eat whole as a snack.

When you’re purchasing apples, look for firm, shiny, smooth-skinned apples with intact stems and a fresh smell. Want some more recipes ideas? Go to recipes.heart.org (American Heart Association) and search apples. Support local agriculture and help make produce more available in communities.

Apple Types/ How does It taste? / How to eat them?

    Gala
    Sweet, juicy
    Snacking, salads
    Red Delicious
    Sweet, crisp, juicy (& delicious)
    Snacking, salads
    Golden Delicious
    Crisp, sweet, mellow, juicy
    Snacking, salads, pies, sauce, and baking
    Jonagold
    Crisp, honey-tart taste
    Snacking, pies, baking
    Ginger Gold
    Sweet-tart, firm, juicy
    Snacking, salads, pies, sauce, and baking
    Cortland
    Slightly tart, crisp
    Snacking, salads, pies, sauce, and baking
    Honeycrisp
    Sweet, tart, very crisp
    Snacking, salads
    Paula Red
    Sweet-tart, crisp
    Snacking, cooking, sauce
    Jonamac
    Crisp, slightly tart
    Snacking, salads, pies, sauce, and baking
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