Cooperative Living October 2017 - 36

Kids'Korner | by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
Falling for Apples
F
or over four centuries, apples have been tumbling
off trees and rolling across American soil. They have
been scooped up into recipes, folklore, traditions
and everyday speech. No matter if red, yellow, green or
a combination of these colors, apples have become part
of American culture, especially when put into a pie.
Each time you hear the phrase
" American as apple pie, " it's not
just your taste buds that get enthused.
You also may feel a bit of national
pride because you know that those
four words indicate that something is
distinctively and typically American,
like blue jeans, baseball or rock 'n' roll
music. But the tricky truth is ... the
apple is not actually native to the United States!
It's almost unpatriotic to admit that this treasured symbol
originated thousands of years ago in the faraway mountains
of Kazakhstan, located in Central Asia. Fortunately, however,
as people migrated across countries and continents, so did
the apples.
Bitter Beginning
When Europeans first settled in Virginia, they brought
along seeds and cuttings from their best fruit trees. Most
of the apples cultivated from these plantings were not like
the sweet treats we enjoy today. Too sour and nasty to eat,
these early apples made excellent cider. Due to sanitation
concerns in the colonies, hard cider was actually safer to
drink than water. Even the children were served a diluted
version of the fermented juice at every meal!
By the 18th century, the colonies had multiplied and as
more settlers arrived, apple trees began sprouting up along
the East Coast.
Apple Hero
In 1774, a boy was
born in Massachusetts
who would grow into a
pioneer nurseryman
determined to spread apples into the
rapidly expanding frontier.
Named John Chapman, he began
his mission during the early
1800s, starting from western
Pennsylvania.
Toting a sack of apple seeds on
his back and wearing a tin-pot hat on his head, this
barefooted and threadbare horticulturist wandered into
the lives of the early settlers, sharing his apple know-how.
As he walked across present-day Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, he planted acres upon acres of orchards on
into the 1840s.
34 | Cooperative Living | October 2017
Known as Johnny Appleseed, it's been nearly 175 years
since this fondly remembered folk hero lived. His orchards
have disappeared, but there is one last living tree believed
to have been planted by Johnny in Nova, Ohio. Nearing a
second century, it has endured harsh winters, tornados and
a collapse of the main trunk. Amazingly, shoots still emerge
from the trunk, keeping the tree's legend and Johnny's
story alive.
Core Facts
Johnny would be thrilled to learn that
the apple tree has become firmly rooted in
America's soil, from coast to coast, as the
following statistics indicate:
* There are 7,500 apple producers in the United States.
* Over 30 states grow apples commercially; collectively, they
produce 240 million bushels on a yearly average.
* The top 10 apple-producing
states are Washington,
New York, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, California,
Virginia, North Carolina,
Oregon, Ohio and Idaho.
* There are over 100 apple
varieties grown commercially in the United States.
In this bushel of apples there are 10 of
the top favorites. Unscramble the letters
and find your favorite flavor. (Answers are
found at bottom of article.)
AAGL ____________________________
IJUF _____________________________
DRE LEDSICIOU ______________________________
ARYGNN ISMHT ______________________________
LNEOGD IDSOUELIC __________________________
YHNOE SPRCI ________________________________
HMCSIONT __________________________________
OEMR _______________________________________
KPNI YLDA __________________________________
EEPRIM _____________________________________
Keeps the Doctor Away
Modern-day research is proving
that this old adage is actually healthy
advice. An apple is an important
part of a healthy diet because it is
all-natural, fat-free, salt-free, high
fiber, a quick energy source and only
80 calories. And, best of all, it's a
convenient grab 'n' go snack!
www.co-opliving.com
KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

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Cooperative Living October 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living October 2017