Do you Love Apples? Yes of course we all do!! After all an Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor away!! Happy American Apple Day 2021!!

We have always heard that an Apple a day keeps the doctor away! Not only it's divinely delicious but it also works wonders for ourselves. Read more about this healthy Day!!

National Apple Day falls on October 21 and is a day dedicated entirely to celebrating all things apple: apple pie, apple sauce, apple crisp… The list goes on and on. This holiday reminds us to appreciate the apple in its myriad forms. On October 21st, pick out your favourite variety and celebrate with apple lovers across the world.

HISTORY OF AMERICAN APPLE DAY!

Studies have shown that the earliest known wild apple trees cropped up in regions of central Asia anywhere between 10 and 20 million years ago. Though initially their flavor skewed toward sour, apple trees would evolve to produce sweeter fruits. This development would make them a more attractive food for wild animals and thereby assist with their diffusion throughout the continent. The apple would eventually spread to Europe as early as the 17th century BC; some historians believe it was during this time that the Roman populus cultivated and developed the apple into the larger, sweeter, more edible fruits that we are familiar with today. 

Since then, the apple has found its way to the forefront of parts of American consciousness and identity (the iconic story of Johnny Appleseed, the phrase “as American as apple pie,” and the nickname “The Big Apple” all come to mind). Though, the United States plays a small part in the worldwide history of the apple; the only native variety to the country is the crabapple, often dismissed as too bitter to enjoy nature.

Furthermore, though also observed in America, National Apple Day has its roots in Europe. It was created by the U.K.-based charity organization Common Ground on October 21st of 1990 to raise awareness about the importance of diversity in different communities. Though the initial meaning of the holiday has been somewhat forgotten, apple-lovers everywhere still enthusiastically use the holiday as a chance to rave about their love for the more than 7,500 different varieties of apple grown across the globe!

AMERICAN APPLE DAY TIMELINE :

The American Apple Arrives: 1607

Colonists arrive at Jamestown with European apple seedlings and begin to plant and harvest apples.

Johnny’s on His Journey: Early 1800s

John Eastman (a.k.a. Johnny Appleseed) travels throughout the Midwest in an effort to plant numerous apple trees and educate farmers on proper apple crop care

The Victorians: 1854

The British Pomological Association began testing new varieties of apples to determine suitability for English farmers.​

Apples in Orbit : 1962

Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth; tubes of applesauce serve as part of his interstellar diet.

Keeping them fresh: 1960s

​Apple growers in the United States began using controlled atmosphere facilities that maintain the freshness of apples until they are brought to market.

Apple breeding: 2010

Newly discovered scientific facts made the apple breeding process considerably faster and more accurate

How ‘Bout Them Apples? : 2017

Worldwide apple production reaches a staggering total of 83,139,326 metric tonnes

American Apple Day Activities:

1. Eat an apple clear choice. Make today the day to keep the doctor away and enjoy a nice, crisp, juicy apple.
2. Plant an Apple Tree. Do some preparation for next year’s National Apple Day and plant an apple tree in your yard! Your future self will thank you.
3. Share the Apple Love. Not everyone may be aware of National Apple Day; help spread the seeds of awareness by sharing apples with foriends, family, strangers… Everyone loves a good apple!

5 Apple Types you need to try:

1. The Granny SmithNamed after Maria Ann Smith, this green apple originated in Australia.
2. The HoneycrispA red apple developed by the Horticultural Research Center at the University of Minnesota.
3. The FujiA hybrid of two American varieties of apples, it was developed by researchers in Fujisaki, Japan.
4. The Cameo. The first Discovered by chance in an orchard in Oregon in 1987.
5. The Ginger Gold. Introduced to the market in the 1980s, it is one of the 15 most popular apples in the world.

Why do we love Apples?

1. Eating apples is healthyApples are filled with antioxidants. Eating them can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. They can also help you lose weight!
2. Apples are VersatileYou can bake apples into a pie, use it in a turnover, smother it with caramel, puree it into applesauce… The possibilities are limitless!
3. Apples Have a Huge Family TreeThe apple has the greatest amount of variety among all other species of fruit. Daybreak Fuji, Candy Crisp, Sansa, Zestar, Shamrock… These are but a few fantastic names among literally thousands of apple variants!

So what are you waiting for? Enjoy this heavenly delicious fruit today!!