Apple Fruit Information

Apples are a type of pomaceous fruit that is grown on deciduous trees. There are 2,500 forms of apples in the United States and 7,500 types worldwide, according to the University of Illinois Extension (See Reference 1).

United States History

• Pilgrims first planted apple seeds in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the first apple nursery in the United States was opened in Flushing, New York, in 1730, according to the University of Illinois Extension (See Reference 1).

Apperance

• Apples can grow to be as small as a cherry or as big as a grapefruit, according to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia (See Reference 2). Apples can also have red, green or yellow coloring and an elongated or spherical appearance.

Common Types

• A Red Delicious apple is a red, heart-shaped apple that was originally grown in Peru and has been grown in the United States since the 1920s, according to the Washington Apple Commission (See Reference 3). A Granny Smith apple is a round, green apple that was first grown in Australia by Maria Ann Smith, according to the commission (See Reference 3). The Golden Delicious is a yellow apple that was first grown in Clay County, West Virginia, according to the Commission (See Reference 3).

Nutrition

• Apples contain vitamins A and C, antioxidants, dietary fiber, magnesium, calcium and folic acid. The vitamins and minerals in apples can help people to have a healthier heart, lungs and cardiovascular system and/or cholesterol levels, according to the George Mateljan Foundation (See Resource 1).

Significance

• In legends and stories in Western cultures, apples represent sensuality, virility, fertility, knowledge, love, pleasure and/or beauty, according to the Midwest Apple Improvement Association (See Resource 3).