Do your remember Johnny Appleseed? Autumn is a great time to teach the kids a bit about him - and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman, and in the 18th and early 19th century, he wanted to ensure no American went hungry. His solution? For almost fifty years, Appleseed wandered the United States planting apple trees and creating orchards in the midst of wilderness. Due in part to his labors, the U.S. now grows 2,500 of the 7,500 varieties of apples available worldwide. Happily, scientists are discovering the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is scientifically accurate. We know apples help prevent asthma, prevent kidney stones, protect against colon and breast cancers, lower bad cholesterol, and raise good cholesterol. Apples also have about 13% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C, and about 15% the recommended daily dose of fiber.

While they are available in the grocery store year round, autumn is still the best time to purchase, prepare, and eat apples. Between September and November apples are at their freshest. With not a whole lot of effort, you can freeze and can fresh apples to enjoy all year long - and the kids can join you. Choosing Apples If you have apple trees in your yard, I'm envious! Let the kids pick apples off the ground (don't worry if they are in poor shape; just put the bruised ones in their own bucket and cut out the bad parts later) while an adult gets the apples that remain on the tree. If you don't have apple trees, see if there's a farm in your area that allows you to pick them or buy them already picked. It's fun for kids to see how apples grow, and the apples will be far fresher than grocery-store purchased apples. When choosing apples from a grocery store or farm, look for firm fruit without blemishes (which might indicate the apples are rotting). There are a huge variety of apples, so if you want them for a specific purpose, bear these things in mind: For applesauce, select Gravenstein, McIntosh, Pippin, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious. For pies and tarts, Golden Delicious, Pippin, or Granny Smith are popular choices. For baking whole, try Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, or Jonagold. If you like sweet apples, consider Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, or Jonagold. For tart apples, select Granny Smith, McIntosh, or Jonathan. For apples somewhere in between tart and sweet, try varieties like Rome Beauty, Winesap, Gravenstein, or Jonagold. For complete information about different varieties of apples and how to use them, check out All About Apples. Storing Apples Once you get them home, good apples last six weeks or so - sometimes longer. Keep them in the refrigerator crisper, or in the cellar or basement away from anything that has a strong odor. Don't store apples near other fruits, as they emit a gas that quickens the ripening of fruits.

Preparing Apples

Before eating or cooking with apples, wash them in warm water and soap. This will eliminate most chemicals (if they are not organic) and reduce the risk of food poisoning due to E. Coli (which is especially important if they are organic). If you’ll be peeling or coring apples in any number, an old fashioned, hand cranked apple peeler/corer is really a must. Besides, kids love cranking those things. Otherwise, use a paring knife to remove the apple skin, and a hand held apple corer.

Later in the week, I'll post easy recipes for applesauce and pie or crisp filling. Both can either be frozen or canned. In the meantime, you might read up on Johnny Appleseed, or read the kids a book about him.