Apple Alma Mater

There are many questions about apples. Here are answers taken from general, reference, and primary sources of scholars and experts in apple fields.

Apple Questions and Answers

There are many questions about apples. Here are answers taken from general, reference, and primary sources of scholars and experts in apple fields.

What’s so interesting about apples?

The apple is among the oldest and favorite fruits in the Western world, as well as one very popular in all continents. However, the apple still has many secrets and mysteries to reveal. The etymology of its name in different languages, the timeline and the itinerary of its journey around the world, its identification as the forbidden fruit from the garden of Eden, the reason for its centrality in many ancient myths and medieval legends, and many other pages of the apple global story are still awaiting explorers to be discovered and solved.

What botanical family do apple trees belong to?

Apple trees belong to one of the prominent families – the rose family, or Rosaceae. Among close “relatives” of apples are such beautiful and popular garden and orchard plants, such as roses, almonds, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, pears, quinces, blackberries, hawthorn, etc. Belonging to the rose family is especially clear during springtime when apple trees blossom with beautiful pink and white flowers. Many countries in the world and states in America even organize festivals to celebrate apple blossom days.

What is the average age of bearing fruit and the average life span of an apple tree?

Apple trees can take from 5 to 8 years to bear fruit. Nowadays, there are also dwarf apple trees, and they start producing fruit after 2-3 years from the planting date. The average life span of an apple tree is around 50 years; however, some apple trees can live over a century. An exceptionally long-lived apple tree was recorded in Vancouver, Washington, and it was officially named the Old Apple Tree; it lived almost 200 years. At the same time, it is possible that even older apple trees are grown near Almaty city in Kazakhstan, where there are still ancient forests with wild apple trees.

Where and when did the first apples appear?

The DNA studies of geneticists demonstrated that all domestic apples originated in Kazakhstan, near Almaty, whose name from the local word ‘alma’ (apple) can be translated as “full of apples”.

The exact timeline of the history of apples is still unknown. However, most scholars agree that “Apples were first domesticated ... between 4,000–10,000 years ago.” (Hirst, K. Kris. "Domestication History of the Apple." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/domestication-of-the-apple-central-asia-4121220). Another interesting fact is that "Malus sieversii grows in both Kazakhstan and Xinjiang in northwest China, but the apples from the two areas differ. Those in Xinjiang are never cultivated. The genes from the apples in Xinjiang are not getting involved in any of the domestic apples.” (https://www.sonneruplund.dk/eng/apple%20history.html )

How many varieties of apples are there in the world?

Apples are the most productive fruits in terms of varieties. A majority of sources indicate a number of 7,500 apple varieties, although some sources mention up to 20,000 apple varieties existing in the world. Apple varieties are different for each country, but some of them are spread internationally - Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, etc. Many people can name more varieties of apples than of any other fruit.

What are the top leaders of apple production in the world?

According to the international ratings in 2020-2021, the leaders in apple production are China, the USA, Turkey, India, Iran, Italy, Russia, Brazil, Chile, and Ukraine. The top ten also includes the European Union thanks to such leaders in apple production as Poland, France, and Germany. In addition, the large exporters of apples are Uzbekistan, Argentina, South Africa, Korea, Japan, Egypt, and Mexico. (Statista: Global leading apple producing countries in 2020/2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/279555/global-top-apple-producing-countries/)

How many varieties of apples are there in the United States and where do they grow?

It is believed that there are 2,500 varieties grown in the United States. Although, there are historical records stating that at the beginning of the 20th century the number of domestically grown apple varieties reached 14,000.

Non-commercially apples are grown in all states of America. The best conditions to grow apples are temperate zones, and they usually grow in USDA Zones 3-7. At the same time, some heat-tolerant low-chill varieties can grow in zones 9 and 10. Different sources indicate 32-36 states where apples are grown commercially. Most apples are produced in Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, and Idaho. There are some successful varieties suitable for Alaska and for Texas.

What are the most popular apple varieties?

The popularity of apple varieties depends on different factors, influencing national preferences in different countries and in different regions. For instance, the modern global trend for local organic food prioritizes the origin of apple cultivars. Thus, British people have traditional affection for the Cox’s Orange Pepin, Canadians love their native McIntosh apple, which became their national fruit, France’s favorite heirloom cultivar is the Reine des Reinette, the Australian Granny Smith apple became one of the most popular varieties in the world, the most famous Japanese cultivar is the Fuji apple which also became a world best-seller. The most worldwide common apple cultivar, the Red Delicious was discovered in the USA, where it represents nowadays the largest commercially grown crop. At the same time, various states in the US have their preferences too: New Englanders prefer the Baldwin apple, the leader of American apple production- Washington state, attributes an increasing preference to its local new premium apple the Cosmic Crisp. The traditional favorite cultivar in Kazakhstan is the native variety Aport.

Why do apples have different colors?

Apples have special pigments, called anthocyanins that are responsible for their colors. Red cultivars are Red Delicious, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp apples. Among yellow cultivars, the most popular is Golden Delicious. The most popular green cultivar is Granny Smith. There are also apple varieties with pink, orange, dark red, purple, and even some rare cultivars with almost black color (Arkansas Black, Tibetan Black Diamond). In the USA there is some hierarchy where the premium apples usually are chosen from red cultivars; they also tend to be high in sugar content. Green cultivars are more tart, but that might be a better choice for people with diabetes or those who try to lose weight by reducing sugar intake in their diet. Green apples also contain more vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as more iron and potassium, than many red varieties.

When is the best time to eat an apple?

Speaking about seasons, the harvest time for most apple varieties in the western hemisphere is typically associated with fall, and the most abundant months are September-October. So, it is not by chance that many Apple Days, Festivals, and other events celebrating the wonderful round fruit occur in many countries and states in those months. The general harvest duration of various cultivars can last from late summer through the next early spring. For instance, the apples Anna, Gala, Gravenstein are harvested in late summer, while, Cortland, Delicious, Jonathan, and Winesap are picked in winter. It is a good idea to search for the exact apple varieties that are in high season specifically for your region if you want to get the best nutrition from your local seasonal fruits.