Md Ag News: Now is a Great Time to Enjoy Maryland Apples
Celebrate the season with fresh, local fruit
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland apple season is in full swing. Now is the perfect time of year for residents to take a trip to an orchard to try all of the delicious apple varieties our state has to offer, or visit a local farmers’ market and savor fresh cider, pies, and other treats. Fresh Maryland apples can also be found in many grocery stores throughout the state. If your local grocery store does not carry Maryland apples, be sure to ask a produce manager for them. For a fun, family activity, visit a pick-your-own orchard and spend the afternoon gathering apples to make your favorite dishes.
“Not only are apples delicious, but they are also a nutritional powerhouse and grown right here in Maryland,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “For the freshest, best tasting apples available, choose locally grown apples.”
Consumers of all ages can benefit from an apple a day. Not just a delicious and healthy snack, apples are full of complex carbohydrates, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin A, phosphorus, thiamin and magnesium. Apples do not contain fat, sodium or cholesterol and with only 80 calories per apple, they fit in perfectly with a healthy lifestyle.
According to the Maryland Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the state’s apple production in 2014 totaled 41 million pounds. Almost every county in Maryland has at least one active commercial orchard.
To find Maryland apples, easy recipes, and pick-your own orchards, visit www.marylandsbest.net.
Click here for Fun Facts about Apples!
Tips for Selecting the Best Maryland Apples:
- Examine the apple for any bruises or spots
- Squeeze the apple for firmness, a fresh apple should feel solid in your hand
- Look at the stem and any attached leaves for freshness
- Ask the farmer, they know their apples the best
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