Happy in the apples

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE REGION — If you love apples, you’ll love this apple season. They’re finally here and they’re abundant this year. According to the United States Apple Association, “The 2006 apple crop was forecasted on August 22, 2006 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be 229 million 42-pound cartons.”

Reported to be one of the most plentiful crops in years, the picking season kicked off in early September and will continue through early November. Hie thee to an orchard or farm stand to bag a bunch of these glorious globes.

One of the supreme joys of apples is their versatility. Apples are great fresh, baked, as butters, jellies, vinegars and refreshing beverages. They can be sliced, diced, dried, carved, frozen and canned.

In addition to the juicy pleasures of eating a freshly plucked apple right out of the hand, many other tantalizing and tasteful delights arise from apples. Consider this incomplete list—apple cider (hot, cold, sweet, hard and sparkling), apple pie (with vanilla ice cream!), apple sausage, apple fritters, baby food, applesauce, spiced apple rings, apple pull-apart bread, apple streudel and many more innovative apple-based treats.

Apples are also considered to be healthy sources of vitamins and minerals. They are fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free and high in fiber, making them a wise addition to one’s daily diet.

Wildlife and insects consume and enjoy them, too. Deer and bears favor an apple snack, bees love their spring blossoms and yellow jackets crave their sticky fall juices.

Finding farm-fresh apples locally usually involves a trip to a regional farmers market or roadside fruit stand. With enticing names like Winesap, Suncrisp, Ginger Gold, Mutsu, Jonagold, Jonamac and Northern Spy, apples are an adventure to learn about and to locate.

Nearby Beach Lake, PA, still boasts an active apple orchard. Walter Ostrander and his wife, Jean, continue to operate the orchard planted by Walter’s grandfather roughly a century ago. Shoppers can purchase a variety of apples, including Macouns, Gala, HoneyCrisp, Empire and more at the family orchard, which also sells pears, cider, jams, jellies, vegetables and homemade maple syrup.

The Ostrander orchard is located roughly halfway between Milanville and Beach Lake on Milanville Road. Due to rising insurance costs, visitors can no longer harvest their own apples, but the Ostrander farm stand is open seven days a week.

Another regional apple adventure awaits at Ritter’s Cider Mill in Lake Ariel, PA. From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, visitors can purchase apples, cider, pies and apple cider donuts after enjoying a hayride, a petting zoo and a hay castle. Directions are available at www.ritterscidermill.com or by calling 570/689-5144.

Once fresh apples have been obtained, store them in a chilly place, such as a refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Apples ripen much faster at room temperature and give off a gas which causes other fruits, such as pears, to ripen more quickly.

There are more than 2,000 varieties of apples grown in the United States and they ripen on different schedules. In the Upper Delaware region, apples have been available since early September and will continue to ripen through mid-November. To find New York and Pennsylvania apple-picking locations or market stands, visit nyapplecountry.com/pick.php and pickyourown.org/PA.htm. Other helpful apple sites are usapple.org and appleproducts.org.

Interesting Apple Facts

1. The apple is New York’s official state fruit.

2. New York State ranks second in apple production, with 23.6 million bushels, while nearby Pennsylvania comes in fourth, at 10.5 million bushels.

3. The United States is the world’s second-largest producer of apples, behind the People’s Republic of China.

4. In America, Red and Golden Delicious are still favored, with Gala running a close third. Hottest up-and-coming varieties are Braeburn, Cameo, Fuji, Ginger Gold, HoneyCrisp and Pink Lady.

5. Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.

6. Apples are a member of the rose family.

7. It takes about 36 apples to produce one gallon of apple cider.

Tuna Apple Tortilla Wraps

Ingredients

2 tortillas (8 inches each)

2 Tbsp. spread, such as herbed cream cheese, pureed roasted peppers, hummus or baba ghanoush

1 large sweet-tart apple, washed, cored and thinly sliced

1 can (6½ ounces) tuna in water, drained

½ to 1 Tbsp. reduced-fat mayonnaise or sour cream

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Mild curry powder (optional)

2 scallions with green tops, cut in half then sliced lengthwise

Method

• Place the tortillas on dinner plates and spread each with 1 tablespoon of the spread of your choice. Arrange apple slices down the center of the tortillas, staying well within 1 inch from the edges.

• In a small bowl, flake the tuna and combine with the mayonnaise and pepper. Spoon the tuna mixture over the apple slices. Sprinkle with a dash of mild curry powder, if desired. Top with the scallions. Roll the wraps from front to back and serve immediately.

• To take along in a lunch box or brown bag, wrap securely in plastic wrap or place in a resealable plastic bag.

Makes 2 wraps.

Approximate Nutritional Analysis (per serving): calories, 360; protein, 26g; carbohydrates, 42g; dietary fiber, 5g; fat, 10g; cholesterol, 40mg; sodium, 549mg.

Source: U.S. Apple Association