Apple Season Is Here: Everything You Need to Know About Apples

Sep 2

5 min read

When September rolls around, apples start popping up everywhere. Farmers markets fill with baskets of red, green, and golden varieties, apple orchards open their gates for picking, and suddenly everything from breakfast to dessert seems to have an apple twist.

At Verdantt Fresh, we love apples because they check so many boxes: they’re nutritious, versatile, relatively easy to store, and incredibly useful even when they’re past their peak. So, this September, let’s take a closer look at one of fall’s most beloved fruits.

A Brief History of the Apple

Apples have been cultivated for thousands of years, but the apples we know today didn’t originate in North America.

The wild ancestor of the modern apple, Malus domestica, is believed to have originated in Central Asia, particularly in the region of present-day Kazakhstan. From there, apples spread along ancient trade routes into Europe and eventually around the world.

European settlers brought apple varieties to North America, where the fruit quickly became an essential crop. Apples were valued not only for eating but also for making cider, preserving food, and feeding livestock.

One of the most famous figures associated with American apples is Johnny Appleseed, whose real name was John Chapman. Beginning in the late 1700s, Chapman planted apple nurseries throughout parts of what is now the Midwest and helped establish apples significance in early America.

Today, thousands of apple varieties exist worldwide, although only a fraction are commonly found in grocery stores.

Apples Are More Nutritious Than You Might Think

The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may not be a literal prescription, but apples certainly have a lot going for them nutritionally.

Apples are naturally low in fat and provide carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, and a variety of beneficial plant compounds.

One medium apple provides several grams of dietary fiber, including soluble fiber such as pectin. Fiber supports healthy digestion and can help you feel fuller after eating. And here’s an important reason not to peel your apple: a significant amount of an apple’s fiber and beneficial plant compounds are found in or near the skin.

Apples contain polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds that help protect plants from environmental stress. Different varieties can contain different levels and types of these compounds, so eating a variety of apples is one more reason to mix things up.

Additionally, aApples contain a high percentage of water, making them a refreshing snack, especially when they’re chilled.

Pair an apple with something containing protein or healthy fat, such as peanut butter, Greek yogurt, or cheese, and you’ve got a simple, balanced snack.

Why Are Apples Associated With Fall?

Apples aren’t exclusively a fall fruit. Different varieties ripen at different times, and apples are available year-round thanks to modern storage and distribution.

So, why do we associate them so strongly with Autumn?

For much of the United States, the main apple harvest occurs from late summer through fall. September and October are especially popular months for apple picking, when orchards are full of ripe fruit and farmers markets are overflowing with seasonal varieties.

Apples also happen to fit perfectly into the flavors and traditions of fall. Apple pie, apple cider, applesauce, caramel apples, and warm baked apples have all become staples of Autumn cooking.

Not to mention, there is something undeniably nostalgic about visiting an apple orchard on a crisp fall day and bringing home a bag of freshly picked apples.

An Apple for Every Occasion

Walk into a grocery store and you might see a handful of familiar varieties, but in reality, there are thousands of apple types, each with its own flavor, texture, color, and ideal use.

Here are some popular varieties you may encounter:

🍎 Honeycrisp

Known for its incredibly crisp texture and sweet yet tart flavor, Honeycrisp is a favorite for eating right off the branch. It’s also delicious sliced into salads or paired with cheese. It’s our personal favorite!

Best for: Snacking, salads, cheese boards

🍏 Granny Smith

Bright green, firm, and distinctly tart, Granny Smith apples are especially popular for baking because they hold their shape well and balance out sweeter ingredients.

Best for: Baking, pies, sauces, salads

🍎 Gala

Gala apples are relatively mild, making them an easy everyday snack.

Best for: Snacking, salads, applesauce

🍎 Fuji

Fuji apples have a flavor that works well both on its own and in recipes.

Best for: Snacking, salads, baking

🍎 Pink Lady

Pink Lady apples have a sweet-tart flavor and a firm texture.

Best for: Snacking, salads, baking

🍎 McIntosh

Soft, aromatic, and slightly tart, McIntosh apples break down easily when cooked.

Best for: Applesauce, apple butter, baking

The takeaway? There’s no single “best” apple. The right variety depends on what you’re making, or simply what flavor and texture you enjoy most. Try some of these pairings to lean into the sweetness of your apple:

Try adding diced apples to:
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Pancakes
- Overnight oats
- Chia pudding

Looking for something a bit more savory? Add sliced apples to salads, sandwiches, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables. They also pair beautifully with ingredients like:

Cheddar
Goat cheese
Pork
Chicken
Walnuts
Sweet potatoes
Brussels sprouts

Check out the Verdantt app for more inspo!

Maybe fall has inspired you to bake this season - while apple pie may be the classic, you can also make apple crisp, muffins, breads, cakes, turnovers, or simply bake an apple with cinnamon for a quick and easy dessert.

Applesauce is also one of the easiest ways to use a large quantity of apples at once and it’s a great solution for apples that are becoming a little too soft to enjoy raw. You can make it with just apples, water, and spices, or customize it with cinnamon, nutmeg, or other flavors.

Don’t Throw Away an Apple Just Because It’s Not Perfect

This is where apples and food waste intersect.Maybe an apple has a bruise. Maybe it’s a little wrinkled. Maybe it’s softer than you prefer. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s trash.

A bruised section can often simply be cut away. Softer apples, like we mentioned above, are excellent for applesauce, baking, smoothies, or cooked dishes.

Even apple scraps have potential! If you do peel your apples, don’t just throw the peels away. They can be used to make homemade apple-peel tea, infused water, or added to smoothies if they’re clean and suitable for the recipe.

Apple cores can be used to make homemade apple scrap vinegar with the appropriate food-safety precautions.And if you have a backyard compost system, apple scraps are a great addition to the compost pile.

How to Store Apples So They Last Longer

Proper storage can make a huge difference in how long your apples remain enjoyable.

If you’re planning to eat them relatively quickly, apples can be kept at room temperature. But refrigeration can significantly extend their storage life.

A few simple tips:

Keep apples refrigerated if you won’t eat them within a few days.
Store them away from produce that is sensitive to ethylene, since apples naturally release this plant hormone as they ripen.
Check your apples regularly and remove any that are beginning to spoil. One rotten apple really can affect the others around it.
Don’t wash apples until you’re ready to eat them.
Use softer apples first so they’re not forgotten in the back of the refrigerator.

A Fruit Worth Celebrating this Fall

Apples have been cultivated for thousands of years, traveled across continents, shaped American agricultural history, and become one of the defining flavors of fall.

However, their biggest advantages may be their simplicity and versatility. An apple can be a snack, a breakfast ingredient, a salad topping, a sauce, a dessert, a savory ingredient, or a compostable food scrap. It doesn’t need much packaging, preparation, or processing to be useful and delicious.

This fall, when you bring home a bag of apples, think beyond the pie.

At Verdantt Fresh, we believe reducing food waste doesn’t have to mean sacrificing convenience or enjoyment. Sometimes, it simply means looking at the food already in front of us a little differently.