“Ever since Eve gave Adam the apple, there has been a misunderstanding between the sexes about gifts”
Nan Robertson
Ah the apple, the world’s favorite fruit has been around since the Garden of Eating, er, Eden. Actually, apples seem to have traveled with nomads from Kazakhstan to the Nile valley over 10,000 years ago and seeds are present in Iron Age burial grounds. The apple is a member of the rose family and is the seedpod formed after the blossom falls. In many cultures, the word for apple translates as a generic term for an edible fruit or vegetable: pomme de terre, pomme d’amour, pomodoro; this is why the confusion exists about the apple as the forbidden fruit: it really could have been figs or any number of fruits. Over 7500cultivars of apples are known; in the U.S., we commercially grow about 100 of them. China is the largest producer and apple pie maker, we’re #2. An apple a day can lower risks of cancer – an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, they’ll keep you fit and trim – ask your doctor!
