Tis the season–for apples! This vibrant, multi-hued fruit is a member of the rose family, and each fall, you can find a wide variety of locally grown apples on the produce shelves at Seward Co-op. Minnesota has commercial apple orchards in nearly 90% of its counties, and there are more than 330,000 acres of apples statewide, with some varieties originating here first! In 1878, the University of Minnesota started an apple breeding program and has created 28 new apple varieties since then, including favorites like Honeycrisp, SweeTango, and Zestar. Keep reading to learn great apple recipes, meet one of our Community Foods apple producers, and play a fun Microgreens game of Apple Bingo.
Fall in Love with Apples
Apple Recipes
Apples are a versatile fruit and can be used a variety of ways in both sweet and savory dishes. Check out the below recipes that showcase the *core* flavors of apples.
Maple Cranberry Apple Crisp with Puffed Wild Rice
This recipe from the Indigenous Foods Class Series is a delightful dessert made with sliced apples, Ceylon cinnamon, and puffed wild rice topping. Watch the class video and read the recipe here.
Apple Harvest recipes
Which apples are best for which recipes? Use this handy guide to determine if the apples you have are made for baking, drying, juice, and more. Then, check out this blog to get ideas for roasted apples with root vegetables, sweet and savory salads, and easy apple desserts.
Apple Nachos
Apple nachos are a perfect sweet treat for kids to make. Slice your favorite apple into thin pieces, drizzle with caramel or chocolate sauce, and add your favorite toppings, like chocolate chips, coconut, walnuts, and more. Get creative and make them your own!
Community Foods: Whistling Well
Whistling Well Farm is an apple orchard located in the St. Croix River Valley. The orchard was planted in 1972 by Carol and Charlie Johnson and their sons on their farm. Today, a selection of Minnesota’s favorite apple varieties are grown there, such as First Kiss, SweeTango, Honeycrisp, Haralson, and Zestar. Through a partnership with Cornell University and by practicing integrated pest management, Whistling Well is committed to sustainable and bee-friendly orchard management.
Microgreens: Apple Bingo
There are more than 2,500 types of apples grown in the United States–that’s a lot! Try a few of them this fall and win Apple Bingo. Download the printable PDF, with instructions, below.
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