Colorado Apples
Apples rank among the top three fruits produced around the world. Apples are a top fruit crop in Colorado and they are the focus of the Colorado Proud marketing program in February.
Apples are rich in quercetin and pectin, both of which are credited for providing health benefits for people who eat them regularly.
Trotta: “ We decided to focus on apples because apples are in storage for quite a long time before we pick them and most of the apples we pick now are stored until March when we get ready for the new harvest. We thought it would be a fun delicious treat, something warm in the oven.
Danielle Trotta at the Colorado Department of Ag says the recipe they’ve chosen this month comes from Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary and is simple and delicious.
Trotta: “We did an Apple Crisp. Chef Jason Morse just whipped up something that you can actually cook on your Trager grill or in the oven.”
They are easy to store and transport, and as a result, are typically available year-round in the U.S.
Trotta: “The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Association does so much for all of our produce growers in the state and we love to shout out anything that we can that our producers grow.”
The fruit crop serves as the key economic driver for Colorado’s Mesa, Montrose, Delta, and Montezuma Counties. And while peaches account for 75% of the fruit production in Colorado, apples are also among the favored fruits.
