All
About Apples
By Annee Jones
In writing my new contemporary western romance, Apples for Ashley, I became curious about the history of apple farming in North America. I was amazed at the fascinating information I discovered! For example, did you know that apples are not native to North America? They originated in Kazakhstan (central Asia east of the Caspian Sea). In fact, the capital of Kazakhstan, Alma Ata, means “full of apples.”
The first apple trees in North America were grown in the late 1500s from seeds brought by French Jesuits. The Pilgrims also brought young trees and seedlings from England and planted them in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Settlers traded fruit, trees, and seeds with American Indians. Apples were a staple in the diet of early pioneers, since they could be eaten fresh, fried, stewed, baked, and made into cider, vinegar, and brandy. Even mediocre apples could be cooked into preserves and apple butter, and the poorest fruit was used as livestock feed.
1880 to 1910 was knows as the “Apple Boom” in the south. By 1910 at the height of the period, North Carolina alone was producing ten million bushels for sale to other parts of the country. However, over production, falling prices after WWI, and competition from the West Coast soon led to the decline of the apple industry in the eastern and southern states by the mid 20th century.
The proverb
“an apple a day will keep the doctor away” first appeared in print in 1866 and
comes from the tales of the Arabian Nights, in which a magic apple is found capable
of curing all human diseases. The fruit is not specifically named in the Old
Testament’s Book of Genesis. It’s reputation as a “forbidden fruit” may actually
be the result of a pun – the Latin word “malus” means both “apple” and “evil.”
Speaking of folklore, who was Johnny Appleseed and how did he get this name? The real person behind the nickname was John Chapman of Massachusetts. He condemned grafting – an farming technique used to propagate specific varieties – insisting that the only “good” apple was that which arose from seeds. Thus, he began collecting seeds from Pennsylvania and ferrying them west. However, because the apples were too sour to be eaten, they were primarily used to make cider and applejack (in other words, booze). Temperance activists condemned the apple as a source of sin and – incredibly - demanded that moral people burn their trees.
I don’t know about you, but after learning about the history of the apple in agriculture and literature, I might not look the same way at the fruit again! I hope you enjoy my book, Apples for Ashley, Book 2 of The Orchard Brides series. It will be published on April 4 and is available for pre-order here:
https://amzn.to/36f3MBO
Can forbidden fruit lead to sweet romance?
After standing up to the wrath of the owner of a private apple orchard where her daughter picked some of the tantalizing, but off-limits, fruit, will Skye Palmer allow the handsome cowboy to atone for making her little girl cry?
New owner of Humble Tree Orchards Troy Sutton feels terrible - he shouldn't have come down so hard on the child for taking some of his ripe produce - even if the farm's profit margin is in the red zone. Can he find a way to make it up to her and her gorgeous angry mother? And can they come up with a plan to save the apple orchard before the winter frost arrives?
Sweetness is in the air... and perhaps an "apple-y ever after" might just be possible after all...
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/history-of-apples
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple
About Annee Jones
Annee Jones is a heartwarming romance and soon-to-be cozy mystery author who enjoys sharing her heart and imagination with others. She is passionate about writing stories that offer readers a place where dreams come true!
Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.
Annee also enjoys freelance writing for Publishers Weekly and multiple publishing companies.
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