Pixabay Image
National Apple Month is a month-long celebration held every October in the United States to honor one of the country’s most beloved fruits—the apple!
October is prime apple picking time, and National Apple Month is aligned with fall harvest season, when apples are at their peak.
Apples are a staple in kitchens, gardens, and pantries alike. They are incredibly versatile and used in a wide range of culinary, medicinal, and even household applications. Here are some common uses:
- Fresh Eating: Crisp and sweet varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp taste best when eaten raw.
- Baking: Apples shine in pies, crisps, cakes, muffins, and turnovers.
- Cooking: Used in sauces, chutneys, and savory dishes like pork with apples.
- Beverages: Pressed into apple cider, fermented into hard cider, or distilled into apple brandy.
- Preserves: Turned into apple butter, jams, and jellies.
- Snacks: Made into apple chips, dried slices, or paired with peanut butter.
- Digestive Health: Rich in fiber, especially pectin, which aids digestion.
- Heart Health: Contain antioxidants like quercetin and flavonoids for cardiovascular wellness.
- Weight Management: Low in calories and high in satiety, making them ideal for healthy snacking.
- Natural Sweetener: Applesauce is often used as a substitute for sugar or fat in baking.
- Ripening Agent: Apples emit ethylene gas, which helps ripen other fruits when stored together.
- Decor: Dried apple slices and cinnamon sticks make fragrant fall decorations.
- Compost: Apple waste enriches compost with nutrients.
Apples are grown in all 50 states, with major production hubs in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Many farms and orchards host their own fun, flavorful, and family-friendly apple-themed festivities throughout October. These events not only celebrate the fruit itself but also support local agriculture and bring communities together.
Today, there are about 100 apple varieties grown in the United States. Learn about a few of them in this infographic from Farm and Dairy:
Whether you’re biting into a delicious Honeycrisp or baking a warm apple pie, October is the time to let apples shine!
