October 13, 2007
Fall is apple season
Fall is harvest time and around the Midwest one of the most popular fruits and vegetables is apples. People often ask, are apples good for you? "They don't really have that many vitamins and minerals". While it is true, looking at the nutrition of the apple, it doesn't look like an apple packs a lot of nutrients, but that is what is mysterious about fruits and vegetables.
Many fruits and vegetables have benefits that go beyond the nutrients they contain. For years we have been hearing about how there are new antioxidants and other phytochemicalsin our food that help fight cancer and other diseases. It is these pieces of the food that are not listed in the ingredients or the nutrition facts label that are so important to our health. Most of these phytochemicals are in fruits and vegetables and that is why we are told to eat more fruits and vegetables.
While apples have Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, it is the antioxidants that give it the extra value.
In Illinois, mid October often signals the end of apple season as most apples are harvested in September. However several local orchards still have later season apples such as Braeburn, Crispin, Goldrush, and Winesap. Peter Piper picked a peck..... Don't be surprised if you go to a local orchard and they are selling apples by the peck. 10.5 pounds of apples is one peck. Apples are often sold by the peck and half a peck.
To learn more about apples, including some great apple recipes and where to find a local apple orchard, visit the Apples and More page.
Posted by Jennifer McCaffrey at 12:09 AM |
