September is prime picking season for apples in Colorado. Sure, they taste delicious, and an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but there are a lot of fun facts that we bet you didn't know about these fine fruits. Check out our favorites... and soon you'll be able to impress your friends and family with your apple knowledge!
FUN FACTS ABOUT APPLES
- Pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
- Pomology is the science of apple growing.
- The only apple native to North America is the crabapple.
- President George Washington loved to spend time pruning his apple trees.
- Apples were called winter bananas or melt-in-the-mouths in Colonial Times.
- A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds, and a bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds.
- Apples are grown in all 50 states.
- Apple trees typically live to be about 100 years old.
- The apple is the state fruit of Illinois, Washington, Minnesota, West Virginia, New York, and Vermont.
- Red Delicious apples are the most popular in the United States, followed by Golden Delicious and Granny Smith.
- The average apple has 10 seeds.
- Apples float because 25% of an apples volume is air, making them perfect for bobbing.
- Are you afraid of apples? Then you have Malusdomesticaphobia.
- People eat an average of 65 apples a year.
- It takes an apple tree 4-5 years to produce their first fruit.
- One gallon of apple cider requires about 36 apples.
- It takes about two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
- The first apple nursery was opened in 1730 in Flushing, New York.
- The largest apple ever picked weighed three pounds.
- Johnny Appleseed was a real person, and he actually planted apple trees all over the United States. His real name was John Chapman.
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES IN COLORADO
Apple crops are often affected by the weather, and this year's crop is no exception. Unfortunately, an early freeze has affected the number of apples available for picking and purchase. Please call ahead to get a crop status before heading out on your own apple picking adventure.
NELMS FARM | Golden, CO - Sold out for 2024!
You-pick apples and potatoes are available at this farm in Golden, which began as a backyard orchard. You will also find a resident beekeeper at Nelms Farm.
YA YA FARM & ORCHARD | Longmont, CO
Ya Ya Farm & Orchard is a century-old farm which uses natural and organic methods to grow crops. Reservations are required for apple picking.
FRUIT BASKET ORCHARD | Grand Junction, CO
Western Colorado's favorite farm boasts a variety of pick your own produce.
ORCHARD CREEK RANCH | Glenwood Springs, CO
Orchard Creek Ranch is a 75-year-old farm known for its organic, heirloom apples like Jonathan, Rome, Double Red Delicious. You can also purchase apple favorites like dried apple chips, apple cider, apple cider vinegar and Applewood chips for the grill.
HAPPY APPLE FARM | Penrose, CO
Pick your own Gala, Jonathan, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious apples along with berries and pumpkins. Grab some fresh-baked pies and cobblers while you're there.
