“An Apple A Day Will Keep the Doctor Away,” or so I have been told. Apples are one of the most popular, flavorful, and healthful fruits grown, according to the U.S. Apple Association.
Apple growing is an important industry in America. The pilgrims in the Massachusetts Bay Colony planted the first U.S. apple trees. In the early 1800s John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, traveled across the Ohio Valley carrying bags of apple seeds. He planted seeds and grew apple trees wherever he roamed to ensure that settlers would have nutritious apples to eat.
Pollination of the apple tree blooms is necessary for apple production. Many apple grower place beehives in their orchards so that the honeybees can pollinate the flowers. When the blossoms fall off, the pollinated flowers will produce apples. The apples grow during the summer and the crop is harvested in the fall when the apples ripen.
There are 2,500 varieties of apples grown throughout the United States with the state of Washington being top apple producer. The top ten apples are: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh, York Imperial, Rome Beauty, Johnathan, Stayman, Newtown Pippin, and Winesap.
Apples come in many varieties, convenient to eat, and very nutritious. A medium apple contains no fat, no sodium, an excellent source of fiber, only 80 calories, no cholesterol, and no artificial color or flavor. Could these facts be the reason for thinking apples keep the doctors away? For more information on apples check out Apples: A Class Act published by the U.S. Apple Association.
Scalloped Apples
2 cans Apple Pie Filling
8 oz Velveeta Cheese, cubed
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 stick of butter
Directions: Place apple pie filling in bottom of sprayed baking dish. Cover top of filling with the cubed cheese. Mix sugar, flour, and butter with a fork until you have a crumbly mixture. Put this mixture on top. Cook in oven uncovered for 50 minutes on 300 degrees.
Submitted by: Janie Mundy, Defeated FCE Club
