Apple Basics

Apples are the fruit of the apple tree, one of the oldest and most widely cultivated fruit trees. The apple tree grows best in temperate zones; it cannot be cultivated in tropical climates because it requires a period of cold and dormancy in order to thrive. Some varieties of apple trees are able to withstand temperatures as low as −40°F. The height of the apple tree can vary widely, particularly since the creation of dwarf hybrid apple trees. It is generally as tall as it is wide and produces pretty clusters of highly fragrant pink or white flowers.

Apples are believed to be native to southwestern Asia. Archeological remains provide evidence that apples have been cultivated since ancient times and could already be found growing wild in prehistoric Europe. A highly symbolic fruit, the apple is featured as the forbidden fruit and the fruit of knowledge in the Bible. By the sixth century BCE, the Romans knew of 37 different varieties of apples. Along with incalculable mutations and crossbreedings that produced new apple varieties, Roman expansion contributed to the spread of the apple to England and across Europe. Around 1620, the early settlers brought the apple with them to North America, where it has thrived. Today, the largest producers of apples are Russia, China, the United States, Germany, and France.