When picking begins around the end of August, there is a constant buzz of activity until the last of the fruit comes off near the end of October. Many apples are processed into sauces, pies, and jelly - or pressed into fresh cider and processed apple juice. Some apple varieties are designed specifically for this market. An apple is in the pome family - a fruit whose seeds are embedded in the core of the fruit. Another surprising member of this family is the rose.
Apples come in lots of colors and shapes - all of which add up to America's number one snack.
Select one of each type and have a taste test - each apple is loaded with minerals, vitamins, and fiber. With the harvest complete, it is time to prepare again for winter. Growing an apple takes all year, and there is always something going on in the orchard. If you look closely, you can even see the promise of next year's crop at the tip of each branch in the snow. It is the bud that will become the apple which you might eat a year from now.