When the air turns crisp and the leaves turn the color of a sunset, it means apples are ripe for the picking. People all over the country flock to apple orchards to select the perfect apples to turn into scrumptious treats from pies and crisps, to applesauce and apple cider, jellies and butters. So today, in celebration of National Apple Day, we wanted to share nine fun and unexpected facts about apples.
There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples, and they come in many shades of red, yellow and green.The apple is part of the rose family. Maybe this is one reason they smell so good!
One bad apple really does spoil the barrel! According to this article, apples emit ethylene gas, which hastens ripening. Damaged apples give off ethylene more quickly which can literally cause the entire batch to spoil.
The game of bobbing for apples only works because apples float. How is that possible? Well, apples are actually 25% air!
The word “apple” appears eight times in the Bible, four of which refer to the apple of the eye, or the pupil. Many believe the apple to be the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, but there is actually no mention that an apple was the fruit on the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Ever wonder why New York City is called “The Big Apple?” According to this TripSavvy article, the nickname originated in the 1920s in reference to the prizes (or "big apples") rewarded at the many racing courses in and around New York City, but wasn't officially adopted as the city's nickname until 1971 as part of an ad campaign intended to attract tourists.
If you find yourself in China and need a gift for your host, try the popular gift of apples. Pronounced ‘ping,’ the Chinese word for apple also stands for peace.
Making apple cider? You’ll need about 36 apples to make 1 gallon.
Eating apples or drinking apple juice increases the amount and production of acetylcholine in the brain, which is proven to improve memory and slow the mental decline of Alzheimer’s patients.
Apples have been found to decrease the amount of LDL-cholesterol by 23%, rivaling medications with a 18%-50% decrease, but without the negative side effects.
So whether you’re appreciating the apple on its special day or any day of the year, take heart that its history is making an impact all around the world. Choose your favorite variety, savor the crisp, sweet taste and enjoy all things apple!