
A Brief History of Apples
About Local Apples
Apples are an important crop in North Carolina. Our apples come from Creasman Farms in Henderson County, which is the largest apple producing county in the state of North Carolina with 3,559 acres of apple orchards.
Apples are a fascinating crop because they must be grafted for genetic uniformity. If you grow an apple from seed, you will get a completely unique, never-before-seen apple variety. In that way, apples are just like people!
You can find one of our favorite apple-related excerpts in Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire. In the book, Pollan goes to Kazakhstan to see apples flourishing in their native habitat. The trees grow wild all around in a million different Dr. Seuss-like combinations, some with large fruits, others with small, berry-like fruits.
Crabapples are the only apples native to North America, but settlers brought the sweet varieties from their home countries and planted them here. In North Carolina, legend has it that William Mills, an early settler in the area, planted the first apple trees on his farm in Fruitland in the late 18th century.
Although the area’s apples have a long history, the industry has changed rapidly in the past two decades. In 1983 – the height of production – apples produced in North Carolina were worth $415 million, according to state agricultural statistics. But when the National Fruit plant in Lincolnton closed in 1997, and the Gerber plant in Asheville closed in 1998, many nearby growers, who grew fruit for processing into baby food and applesauce, gave up. By 2001, the apple industry was worth just $16 million statewide, and orchard acreage in Henderson County had decreased by about half.
Today, the apple industry has transformed into a more locally focused market. Many apple farmers grow for apple lovers just like you! Agritourism and the local food movement are a huge part of what makes apple farming a viable industry in Western North Carolina. Thank you so much for your support!
Apples to Try
You could slice them up and have a formal “apple tasting,” just like a wine tasting. You could use the chart on the following page to track your observations.
Or you could cook a meal using different apples in each dish!
Want to keep it simple? Just enjoy the apples the old fashioned way, one at a time, eaten whole as a snack!
Here are a few varieties to know:
A Sample Menu
Want to try preparing an apple-inspired meal? Here’s an idea!
Appetizer: Charcuterie plate with Ginger Gold apples, cheddar cheese, salami, veggies, crackers
Salad: Mixed greens topped with roasted butternut squash cubes, Blondee apples, pickled onions
Main Course: Hamburgers with a Honeycrisp slice on top
Dessert: Apple cobbler with Gala and Ginger Gold apples
Apple Tasting Chart
Variety |
Color |
Smell Example: rosewater, honeysuckle, lime |
Texture Example: chewy, crisp, juicy |
Flavors Example: cantaloupe, lemons, earth |
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