jour082809
Join the Club
Club Outdoors is where you can keep up with Star Tribune experts and others in Minnesota who love fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation. Click here to access our outdoors newsletter, the Club Outdoors Facebook Fan Page, Twitter and more.
Stay in touch via:
Blog Topics
Newsletters
Home | Sports | Club Outdoors
Outdoors Journal: Minnesota apples
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Club Outdoors
MINNESOTA APPLES
It's time for picking Beacon and State Fair apples, and soon Red Baron and Wealthy apples will be at their peak of ripeness, followed by other such favorites as McIntosh, Sweet Sixteen, Honeygold, Haralson and Regent. Each kind of Minnesota apple has its own special flavor and texture.
The apple provides a sweet touch that also is healthy and does not hurt the teeth. A medium-sized apple about three inches in diameter, besides being 85 percent water, has about 70 calories, 20 grams of carbohydrate and traces of many vitamins and minerals. In addition, the mild acid of the apple is effective in cleaning tooth surfaces and leaving a pleasant taste in the mouth.
Scientists believe the earliest apples to be cultivated grew wild, first in the mountains of southwestern Asia, probably in the area between the Black and Caspian seas. The first Minnesota full-sized apple variety to withstand cold winters, bear fruit regularly, and have good keeping qualities and flavor was developed in the 1860s by Peter Gideon, who lived near the south shore of Lake Minnetonka.
Gideon's apple, named Wealthy, after his wife, Wealthy Hull, ripens in late August and is still widely grown throughout Minnesota. Since then, he and other horticulturists have developed many varieties of apples suitable to our climate and the taste of apple eaters.
JIM GILBERT
Recent Club Outdoors stories
Dennis Anderson: Ducks, but not today - August 27, 2009
Dennis Anderson: Ducks, but not today - A new venue for opening day produced little to shoot at, and reports elsewhere generally weren't good. So the goal was adjusted: tomorrow. More
Join the discussion: Your Voices is a group blog featuring unique perspectives from members of your community. Find commentary on current events, public issues and day-to-day life in Minnesota.
Recent posts
  Research, Build, CompareCustomize your car search by building your own dream car. Find your perfect vehicle! |
Win tickets to see Brett Dennen at Pantages Theatre.Vita.mn presents Brett Dennen with Grace Potter and The Nocturnals at Pantages Theatre on Nov. 27. |
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments