We Are The Experts
Please click to view the most frequent asked questions about apples:
The best way to store apples is to keep them refrigerated at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the apples to stay cool and fresh, slowing the aging process and retaining the apples firmness. Fruit bowls are beautiful, but your apples will not stay crispy or keep for very long on the countertop.
Based on acreage planted are McIntosh, Empire, Northern Spy, Red Delicious and Gala.
Browning of apples is caused by a process called Oxidation. In order to reduce browning, prepare apple dishes just before serving. You can protect cut apples from oxidation by dipping them into a solution of one part citrus juice and three parts water.
Not at all. In fact wax on apples is very beneficial to protecting the fruit and ensuring freshness. Freshly harvested apples have their own waxy coating that protects them from shriveling and weight loss. Apples are washed at our fruit packing facilities to remove dust and chemical residues, insuring sanitation and food safety. This washing removes about half of the original apple wax which is replaced by a natural coating that we apply. The natural wax added to protect our high quality apples is a carnauba or shellac wax. Both are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) and have been used on a variety of foods for decades. These wax formulations are natural, non-petroleum based coatings that help protect the fruit and allow it to naturally stay fresh and look beautiful. Research has shown that apple waxing prevents moisture loss, enhances firmness retention and slows down the apple respiration rate.
In the most recent study conducted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service Laboratory in Wenatchee, WA, Red Delicious apples from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage were held at room temperature for eight days (duplicating how apples are treated in grocery stores). The unwaxed apples lost firmness faster than the waxed apples.
Some historians report wax has been used on produce since the early 1920s, but other experts say fruits and vegetables were waxed by housewives long before that to improve storage life. As little as one pound of waxy coating will cover approximately 160,000 pieces of fruit and vegetables, according to the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Only a drop or two of wax is needed to give a Washington apple a shiny, protective coating and help keep the crunch to the last bite.
What should I look for when choosing apples at my local grocery store or Market?
When at a store or marketplace and selecting fresh apples, you should pay attention to the skin. An apple’s skin should be shiny, not dull. This tip’s important because dull appearing apples won’t be as crisp and tasty. It is also a good idea to feel for the firmness of the apples. For the best eating experience your apples should be firm and free of bruises and punctures.
The Greeks were growing several varieties of apples by the late 300’s BC, and the ancient Romans also grew and loved the fruit. Researchers have even found the charred remains of apples at a Stone Age village in Switzerland.
European settlers brought apple seeds and trees with them to the New World. Records from the Massachusetts Bay Company indicate that apples were being grown in New England as early as 1630. In 1796, in Ontario, Canada, John McIntosh discovered a variety of apple which is today enjoyed by people around the world–the McIntosh Apple!
Apples have also appeared in legends in our past. In the Bible, Adam and Eve are tempted by apples in the Garden of Eden, and in the Swiss story of William Tell, an archer is arrested and then promised his freedom if he can shoot an apple off his son’s head with an arrow.
Here are 10 reasons why:
- Apples contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps greatly helps in boosting your immune system. A lot of people who lack Vitamin C in their diet have poor healing, bruise easily and have bleeding gums.
- Prevent Heart Diseases. The reason it can prevent both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease is because apples are rich in flavonoid. Flavonoids are also known for their antioxidant effects.
- Low in calories. A regular size apple has between 70-100 calories. Eating an apple when craving for candy or chocolate can make the desire disappear since apple itself contains sugar, but gives you only ¼ of the calories.
- Prevent Cancers. Notice the plural. We all know that cancer comes in several forms and in different places. Apples target multiple cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in women.
- Apples contain phenols, which have a double effect on cholesterol. It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. They prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a very dangerous form of bad cholesterol which can be deadly.
- Prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection that seriously damages the structure of your teeth, which is caused primarily because of bacteria. The juice of the apples has properties that can kill up to 80% of bacteria. So there you have it, an apple a day also keeps the dentist away!
- Protects your brain from brain disease. This is something many people don’t know, and when you consider that your brain makes the person you are, it gives a whole new perspective. Apple has substances called phytonutrients, and these phytonutrients prevents neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson.
- Healthier Lungs. A research at the University of Nottingham Research shows that people who eat 5 apples or more per week has lower respiratory problems, including asthma.
- They taste great! And not only that, they also come in many flavors and colors. Not in a mood for a green apple? Why not get a red one, or a macintosh! Their taste can vary greatly, but still give you all the apple benefits. Variety is an important element to maintaining your health.
- Apples provide the body with a good source of dietary fiber. One apple can provide about one-fifth of the daily recommended intake for fiber.