National Apple Month. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Yesterday was the beginning of National Apple Month which began in 1904 as National Apple Week. In 1996 the event was expanded to a three-month timeframe from September through November. The mission of National Apple Month is to increase apple industry sales and enhance consumer awareness of apple usage and products available. The health benefits of apples and apple products were first recorded as early as medieval times, giving rise to the old English saying "Eating an apple before going to bed makes the doctor beg his bread" and its more recent variation, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples' healthy attributes have received considerable renewed interest recently, following the publication of several studies linking apple nutrients to an impressive range of health benefits. Apples and processed apple foods can be an important part of a healthy diet. If you don’t care for apples, maybe you haven’t tried the right one. Each variety of apple has its own unique flavor profile. Braeburn, Cameo, Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Jona-Gold, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp and dozens of others. There are 2500 varieties of apples grown in the U.S. with over 7500 varieties worldwide. So welcome to National Apple Month!

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.