Even more apple facts

While it may seem that your grocery store has a nice selection of apples, we’re a long way from what fruit historians describe as ‘the golden age of pomology.’ During the 19th century, there were about 14,000 distinct apple varieties across the United States. Today only 100 varieties of apples are commercially grown. And remember that there is plenty of truth to the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ A large apple has 115 calories and 5 grams of fiber per serving, and the fruit’s polyphenols and fiber help balance bacteria in your gut. But make sure not to peel it: two-thirds of the apple’s antioxidants and much of its fiber are found in the skin. And finally who called New York the Big Apple? It was Edward S. Martin who wrote in the magazine ‘The Wayfarer in New York’ ......the midwest inclines to think that the big apple (New York) gets a disproportionate share of the national sap.’