In the Farm Fresh News

With the fall season upon us, the 600+ family-run apple farms of New York State (NYS) quickly become filled with visitors eager to pick crisp, juicy apples. NYS apple growers have been perfecting their apples for 300 years. From our classic McIntosh to our snappy Empire, New York has what you want in an apple. Taste the difference, savor the quality, and share the pride! 

• New York State produces an average of 25 million bushels of apples annually, making it #2 in the country.

•  New York State apples have consistent superior quality, due to favorable soils, rainfall and temperatures.

•  New York State growers use new, updated growing practices in their orchards, making them among the finest in the country.

•  New York State produces more commercial varieties of apples than any other region of the country.

•  New York State packing facilities use new technology to assure a more consistently high quality product!

Health Benefits

Before you head out to an orchard this season, check out the following facts about apples and your health. It may entice you to pick up more of your favorite type of apple.

Apples are full of pectin, a soluble fiber, which aids digestion. One apple provides as much dietary fiber as you'd find in a bowl of bran cereal, equal to one-fifth of the daily recommended intake of fiber. It makes you feel fuller for longer, so you eat less, and therefore weigh less.

Apples are also good at preventing heart disease, lung cancer and osteoporosis. According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, the long-term consumption of antioxidants supplied by apples reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, an arterial plaque build-up, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack.  Positive results were also found by a medical study conducted in Finland. In a study of 10,000 men and women older than 26, results showed those with a higher consumption of apples were less than half as likely to develop lung cancer as those who ate few or no apples. As a fat-free fruit, apples are also helpful for those besieged by weak bones, as they contain boron, a bone-hardening element.

Not a fan of biting into a firm fruit, but you like the taste of apple juice? You're in luck. Research conducted by Professor Thomas Shea from the University of Massachusetts has found drinking apple juice and cider may protect against oxidative damage, which contributes to memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Who knew apple picking has more to offer than just a relaxing day with your friends and family? Check out Dutchess County Farms at www.dutchesstourism.com/farms.php

New York's top apples include: McIntosh, Empire and Red Delicious. Apples ripened early this year, in August, with late apples available into October. Now is the best time to head to the orchards; be sure to go before trees are bare. Visit www.nyapplecountry.com/pick.php to find you-pick apple farms and pre-picked fruit farm stands. Pumpkins, gourds, mums & seasonal decorations are also available at most farms, along with delicious baked goods like cider donuts and other treats. We hope you enjoy them all year long.