The apples fell onto manure contaminated soils, were picked up, juiced and bottled without pasteurization. Mulches are important to maintaining the soil surface micro-environment, especially temperature and evaporation rate. They also provide cover and food for soil organisms and earthworms. Organic mulches eventually break down and release their nutrients. Remember, plant materials don't release their nutrients until well composted, and manures are dangerous and fast leaching nitrogen sources.
Inorganic mulches are usually decorative gravels.
They help keep soils cooler, decrease weeds and look clean, don't provide organic nutrients, but provide minerals. Some, such as crushed limestone can raise soil ph and add calcium. Granites and basalts can add potassium and trace minerals slowly. Perlite and vermiculite are usually mixed into topsoils to add moisture retention, tilth, potassium and trace minerals. Crushed phosphate rock breaks down slowly and adds calcium and phosphorus, a very vital nutrient, often deficient in soils.