Origin
of the apples
The first apples were introduced to Canada from Europe. But the center
of origin is not in Europe. Within horticulture, scientists believe there
are two areas where apples came from: southwest Asia, in the Caucasus Mountains,
or south central Asia, on the slopes the enormous range that separate China,
Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Apple
and health
Apples are good source of vitamin B, ‘biotin’.
Also good source of minerals: Magnesium, iron, chromium, and manganese.
Apples are excerlant source of soluble fiber, which reduce blood cholesterol.
Canada’s
apple growing areas
Canada has five regions where the climate and soil are ideal
for producing top-quality apples:
1. The Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia;
2. The St. John River Valley in New Brunswick;
3. Southern Quebec;
4. Southern Ontario;
5. The Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.
In the last decade, apple orchards have also been expanding in Saskatchewan.
U-pick
Apple orchard in SK
-
Thunder Ridge Inc.
Jeanine Hall, Melfort, SK. 306-752-2619
-
J.W.D. Market Garden
Bill and Jean King, Outlook, SK. 306-867-9419
-
Treasure Valley Markets
Linda Metke, Cadillac, SK. 306-785-4602
-
Lormar Orchard
Lorne and Marilyn Lazorko, Bankend, SK. 306-576-2336
-
Topp Berry Farm
Brian and Cherry Topp, White City, SK. 306-771-2921
-
Best Berry and Apple Orchard
Eric Upshall and Yvonne Turgion, Regina, SK. 306-757-1450
-
Pearl Creek Farm
Jack and Anne Winniski, Melville, SK. 306-728-3976
Storing
apples
1. Principles for storage:
Apples ripe ten times faster at room temperature than when refrigerated
.
Bruised, damaged and diseased may contaminate other apples.
Overripe apples give off ethylene that helps ripen and shorten storage
period of other apples.
Keeping apple in clean bags prevents contamination and keeps certain
humidity.
Perforated bags reduce accumulation of ethylene.
2. Method of storage:
Remove bruised, damaged and diseased apples;
Classifying apples into different maturity groups:
Put apples in perforated bags;
Keep at 00C to 40C in well ventilated room or
refrigerator.
(Courtesy of Agriculture Canada Publication 1735/E
)
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Recipe
for apple food
1. Spiced apple muffins
Ingredient:
250 ml all-purpose flour
15 ml baking powder
2 ml salt
125 brown sugar
5 ml cinnamon
2 ml allspice
250 ml whole wheat four
1 beaten egg
250 ml apple juice
250 ml grated apple
50 ml oil
10 ml sugar
2 ml cinnamon
Procedure:
Sift together first six ingredients. Stir in whole wheat flour. Combine
egg, apple juice, apple and oil. Add to dry ingredients, stirring only
enough to moisen. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Sprinkle top of muffins
with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake at 1900C until golden
brown (25-30 min ). Make 12 muffins.
2. Apple pancakes
Ingredients:
500 ml all-purpose flour, sifted;
5 ml salt;
15 ml baking powder;
0.5 ml cinnamon;
250 ml finely chopped apple;
2 beaten eggs;
450 ml milk;
15 ml melted butter;
Procedure:
Mix dry ingredients. Combine chopped apples, eggs, milk and melted
butter. Add to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. For each pancake,
drop 50 ml of batter on well-greased hot frypan. Cook until bubbles form
on surface (3-5 min). turn and brown other side (3-5min). serve with apple
cinnamon topping and sausages.
3. Old fashioned applesauce
Ingredients:
8 medium apples (about 1 kg );
175 ml water;
50 ml sugar;
2 ml cinnamon (optional).
Procedure:
Peel, core and chop apples. Add water, cover and simmer until apples
are tender (50-60 min). mash or sieve. Add sugar and cinnamon. Stir until
dissolved. Serve hot or cold.
( Courtesy of Agriculture Canada Publication 1735/E
)
Facts
Apples are the number one fruits in term of consumption. This
is because apples have longer storage time and good nutritional value.
China is supposed to be one of center of apple's origin, but most expesive
apples sold in China are produced in US, more than 4 Canadian dollars a
pound. The interesting thing is that these expesive apples, named 'snake
apple', can not be fund in Canada market.
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