With dozens of varieties to use for baking, cooking and just plain snacking, apples are a naturally sweet, tasty and healthful treat. It’s no wonder that on average, Americans consume about 19 pounds of apples a year.

It wasn’t that long ago that we’d have to wait patiently for harvest season to enjoy the bounty of apples that appear in markets. But thanks to improved transportation and storage methods, apples are available all year long—somewhere in the world it’s harvest time! And even better, new varieties are always popping up alongside the tried-and-true Granny Smith, and Red and Golden Delicious.

Try a new variety!
With more than 7,500 varieties of apples in the world (2,500 are grown in the U.S.), maybe it’s time you “branched out” into new apple territory! Each time you visit the market, select one or two different varieties, then enjoy a taste-test when you get home. Keep a notebook in the kitchen and jot down the texture and taste of each variety, noting sweetness, tartness, crunch factor and so on. Then when you go back to the store, you’ll remember that it’s the Cameo you preferred over the Honeycrisp. Some produce markets and most farmers’ markets will offer you a taste right on the spot, too! And keep in mind that some of the tarter apples used for baking are better tested in a recipe than out of hand, so you may want to do a little experimenting in the kitchen with those varieties.

Braeburn—crisp, juicy with a rich, spicy-sweet flavor
Cameo®—extra-crispy with a sweet-tart taste
Cortland—sweet with just a hint of tartness; white flesh resists browning, so it’s a good choice for salads
Fuji—Developed in Japan and named after Mt. Fuji, this is a sweet and firm apple
Gala—Crisp, juicy and very sweet; one of the most popular apples in the U.S.
Honeycrisp—Super-crisp, with a sweet and honeyed flavor
Jonagold—Blend of Jonathan and Golden Delicious; good for eating fresh and for cooking
Pink Lady®—Crunchy with a sweet-tart flavor
Rome—Mildly tart, used for cooking; especially good baked or sautéed

Apple Nutrition Facts

• Fat-free and low in calories—just 80-90 for a medium apple (5-6 oz.)
• High in fiber, which helps aid digestion and promote weight loss
• High in potassium, low in sodium
• A natural source of phytonutrients (plant derivatives that have health-promoting properties), including antioxidants
• Studies have shown that consumption of apples and apple juice have positive health benefits: can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and prostate and colon cancer; can help lower blood cholesterol; can help protect against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss

What’s with the wax?
Apples have a natural waxy coating that protects their high water content—without it, they would lose their crispness and moisture and would shrivel up! After harvesting, apples are washed and brushed to remove leaves and dirt before packing—during this process, the fruit’s natural wax is stripped. So before shipping, growers apply a natural wax to protect and preserve the apples during transport and storage. As little as one pound of wax will protect up to 160,000 pieces of fruit, so only a few drops end up on each one. The wax gives apples their shiny “coat” as well!

Selecting and storing apples
Pick apples that are bruise-free and firm to the touch. Refrigerate apples to slow ripening and maintain freshness and crispness—they’ll last in the fridge from 4-6 weeks. Store them away from strong-smelling foods as they can absorb odors.

How to prevent “browning” If you’re using fresh, sliced apples in a salad, or cutting them in advance for a fruit platter, coat them with a mixture of three parts water to one part lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Decorating with apples
Apples make beautiful and natural centerpieces on a table, especially when presented in a rustic wooden bowl. Choose apples of different colors to create an autumnal display with shades of reds, yellows and greens.

National Apple Museum
Yes, you can learn everything you wanted to know about apples at the National Apple Museum, located in Biglerville, Pennsylvania (open May through October; visit nationalapplemuseum.com for more information).