The native home of the apple is not definitely known, but the tree originated probably in the area between the Caspian and the Black seas. Charred remains of apples have been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland. Evidence shows that man has been enjoying apples for at least 750,000 years! Apples were a favorite fruit of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

The apple was introduced to America by early settlers, who brought apple seeds with them. Records of the Massachusetts Bay Company indicate that apples were grown in New England as early as 1630. Seeds were carried westward by missionaries, traders, and Native Americans. One man alone, John Chapman Johnny Appleseed), was responsible for extensive plantings of apple trees in the midwestern United States.

Consumption: Apples, as eaten in the fresh state, are a healthy refreshing, crunchy snack. They quench your thirst and their acid content makes them a natural mouth freshener. To bite into a fresh picked apple is a memorable experience. The juice is honey sweet and spicy tart at the same time and the flesh is fragrant and crisp.

Nutritional Facts:
· High in fiber
· High in vitimen C and potassium
· Low in Sodium
· Almost fat-free

Detailed nutritional informatin can be found by searching the USDA Nutritional Database . Enter "Apple" (no quotes) as the keyword and select the link and report of interest.

Scientific classification: Apple trees belong to the family Rosaceae. They constitute the genus Malus.

How to Store: The best place to store apples is in the refrigerator! Sliced or cut apples stay white longer if dropped in a bowl of water containing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

More Information: If the rose can be spoken of as a special flower, then it can be said that the apple is a special fruit. American culture is filled with references to the apple. American folklore speaks of Johnny Appleseed who went throughout the American countryside planting apple trees. His real name was John Chapman and he had a great love for nature. He traveled through Pennsylvania and Ohio and collected apple seeds which he later distributed to farmers along the Ohio river. He wandered through fields and farms adding richness and beauty to the American landscape. Those who met him simply called him, "Johnny Appleseed."

One of the first proverbs taught to all school children is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." This short proverb encourages children to eat fresh fruit to keep healthy and what fruit is more accessible in America than the apple? Likewise a young pupil can gain the admiration of a favorite lady teacher by bringing her an apple and placing it judiciously on her desk before class.

Furthermore, should someone every get on someone else's good side by flattery, people will call him an apple polisher. This, however, should not be taken as a compliment.

Yet, if someone is very dear to us, we say that he or she is the "apple of our eye."

Most people believe that the forbidden fruit which Eve gave to Adam in the garden of Eden was an apple even though the Bible never mentions it as such. The apple, therefore, is deeply embedded in the language and folklore of America, but it is also the one fruit which is most favored among the people.

While an apple may be the forbidden fruit, it is also one of the most delicious and finds its way into the American diet with much ingenuity. Apples can be baked as they are with cinnamon and syrup or they can be fashioned into a pie with raisins and spices. They can also be glazed-over with a candied syrup and serves at parties. During the holiday season they also can be made into a sweet sauce to be served along with roasted pork or as a simple dessert for young children.

For breakfast one can enjoy apple butter spread generously onto toast and washed down with apple juice. Likewise no Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without apple cider, a sweet juice heated in the cold season and spiced with cinnamon drink around a warm fireplace.

In many parts of the country during the harvest season a popular activity is to go into the apple orchards to pick apples. The states of Washington and New York are especially famed for their apples. The whole family loads up in the car with several empty baskets and takes back with them all the apples they can eat.

The humble apple has also entered the age of high-tech where the number one choice for a computer might very well be the Macintosh Apple.

Finally, when it's time to take a vacation, one can always visit New York which is called the biggest apple of them all.

The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family Rosaceae. It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. The tree is small and deciduous, reaching 5 to 12 metres (16 to 39 ft) tall, with a broad, often densely twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately arranged simple ovals 5 to 12 cm long and 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) broad on a 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 2.0 in) petiole with an acute tip, serrated margin and a slightly downy underside. Flowers are produced in spring simultaneously with the budding of the leaves. The flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five petaled, and 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres (0.98 to 1.4 in) in diameter. The fruit matures in autumn, and is typically 5 to 9 centimetres (2.0 to 3.5 in) diameter. The centre of the fruit contains five carpels arranged in a five-point star, each carpel containing one to three seeds.

The tree originated from Central Asia, where its wild ancestor is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples resulting in range of desired characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock.

At least 55 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a value of about $10 billion. China produced about 35% of this total.[3] The United States is the second leading producer, with more than 7.5% of the world production. Turkey, France, Italy and Iran are among the leading apple exporters.

Health Benefits: The marketing slogan and proverb addresses the health effects of the fruit: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," though this adage was likely the result of farmers encouraging higher sales of produce in an effort to counteract the belief that it was an apple that was the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve ate.[citation needed] Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of Vitamin C as well as a several of other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content like most fruits and vegetables.

There is evidence that in vitro apples possess phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective and demonstrate antioxidant activity. The predominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.

The seeds are mildly poisonous, containing a small amount of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside; usually not enough to be dangerous to humans, but it can deter birds.