Interesting facts about apples

apples

Apples are part of the rose family, just like pears and plums.

The apple tree originated in Central Asia. They have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists.

There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples – the largest variety of fruit to exist.

Apple are one of the most widely grown tree fruit.

Apple trees take 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit.

Apple trees are deciduous and have a period of dormancy followed by a flurry of activity in spring.

blooming apple tree

Bees pollinate the flowers in late spring, moving from one tree to the next.

By the time the fruit is ready to be picked, the buds for next fall’s fruit are already in place.

red apple tree

The apple tree generally standing 1.8 to 4.6 meters (6 to 15 feet) tall in cultivation and up to 12 meters (39 ft) in the wild.

Life expectancy for apple tree is about 100 years.

China is by far the largest apple producer.

The Apple is popularly known as the supposed forbidden fruit of Eden. But this is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible!

Adam and Eve

Apples can help you improve your memory.

Apples contain high levels of boron, which stimulates electrical activity of the brain and increases mental alertness.

Most of the anti-oxidants in apples, including Quercetin, are found in the skin.

A medium sized apple contains 80 calories.

apple

The soluble fiber contained in apples is called pectin, and can help lower cholesterol levels.

To produce one apple, it takes energy from 50 leaves.

Pomology is the science of apple-growing.

The apple genome was decoded in 2010.

Apples float in water because they are 25% air.

The most expensive apple in the world is Sekai Ichi apple it cost $21.00 each. Sekai ichi means “world’s number one” in Japanese.

world most expensive apple fruit

The largest apple ever weighed 1.849 kg (4 lb 1 oz) and was grown and picked by Chisato Iwasaki at his apple farm in Hirosaki City, Japan October 24 2005.

the largest apple ever

Apples are also said to symbolize health, love and fertility.

Apple blossoms are a symbol of feminine beauty.

Apples were popular in ancient Greece and Rome and were a sign of opulence.

In Norse mythology, the goddess of youth, Idun was believed to grow magic apples that kept the gods youthful.

In the Chinese culture, the word for apples is pronounced as ‘ping’ which also stands for peace. This is why apples are a popular gift to give when visiting someone in China.

There is a classic story that Sir Isaac Newton came up with his law of gravity when an apple fell on his head.

The most famous saying involving apples is, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

The fear of apples is known as Malusdomesticaphobia.

New York City is nicknamed “the Big Apple.”