🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa030)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa062.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown","crawl_time":1775955284,"first_indexed_time":1515731054,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,britannica!www,\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown s443","src_root_hash":"5455945239613777662","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown? | Britannica","meta_descriptions":["You open your lunch box to discover that the lovely apple you sliced this morning now appears unsightly and brown."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Top Questions\nWhat is an apple?\nWhat does an apple tree look like?\nWhat are some different types of apples?\nWhere are apples commonly grown in the world?\nHow are apples used in food and cooking?\napple\n,  (\nMalus domestica\n),  domesticated\ntree\nand fruit of the\nRose family\n, one of the most widely\ncultivated\ntree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for\nvinegar\n, juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global\ncrop\nalso is used for\ncider\n,\nwine\n, and\nbrandy\n. Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins\nA\nand\nC\n, are high in\ncarbohydrates\n, and are an excellent source of\ndietary fiber\n.\nPhysical description\nApple flowers\nA close-up of white apple blossoms (\nMalus domestica\n). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens.\nApple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be\ngrafted\nonto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple\nleaves\nare roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white\npetals\n, often tinged with pink, and numerous\nstamens\n. The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the\nblue orchard bee\n(\nOsmia lignaria\n) and\nhoneybees\n, and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization.\nHow is the ripeness of an apple determined?\nLearn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple.\nSee all videos for this article\nThe apple itself is a pome (fleshy)\nfruit\n, in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and\nedible\n. When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in\ntannin\n. In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the\nfreezing point\nof the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in\ninert\ngases or in controlled atmospheres.\nBritannica Quiz\nFruit or Vegetable? A Quiz\nApple diversity\nA colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties.\nCultivation\nSince the apple requires a considerable period of\ndormancy\n, it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short\ngrowing season\n. The\nsoils\nin which apple trees grow must be well drained;\nfertilizers\ncan be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold.\nScions\nof desired varieties are commonly\ngrafted\nonto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to\npruning\nis required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against\ninsect\npests and\ndiseases\nand possibly to\ndelay\nspring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum.\nHistory and domestication\nMalus\nspecies\nare native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple,\nM. sieversii\n, in the\nTien Shan\nmountains in\nCentral Asia\nsome 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the\nSilk Road\nand hybridized with a number of wild\ncrabapples\n, including\nM. baccata\nfrom Siberia,\nM. orientalis\nfrom the Caucasus, and\nM. sylvestris\n, the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe.\nOver the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across\nNorth America\n, it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed (\nJohn Chapman\n), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana.\nTrusted knowledge for those who want to know more.\nSUBSCRIBE\n(\nRead Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?”\n)\nIn the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were\nChina\n, the\nUnited States\n, and Turkey.","attrs_markdown":"[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\nLogin\n\nhttps:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm\\_source=premium\\&utm\\_medium=nav-login-box\\&utm\\_campaign=evergreen\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue)\n\n[Ask the Chatbot](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/chatbot)\n\n[Games & Quizzes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/browse) [History & Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/procon) [Money](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money) [Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/videos)\n\n[Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown)\n\n[Introduction](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown)   [References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown\/additional-info)  [Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown)\n\n[Images](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown\/images-videos)\n\n[![Browning apple slices](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/195155-004-781D5548\/Slices-apples-table.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/195155-050-56D2D09D\/Slices-apples-table.jpg)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)\n\nContents\n\nAsk Anything\n\n[Science](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Science)    [Plants](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Plants)    [Flowering Plants](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Flowering-Plants)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Browning apple slices](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/195155-050-56D2D09D\/Slices-apples-table.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/195155-050-56D2D09D\/Slices-apples-table.jpg)\n\n[Browning apple slices](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/55\/195155-050-56D2D09D\/Slices-apples-table.jpg) Cut apples brown due to a chain of biochemical reactions known as “enzymatic browning.”\n\n(more)\n\n# Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?\nWhat’s behind this unattractive phenomenon?\n\nHomework Help\n\nWritten by\n\n[Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she\/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,...](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/melissa-petruzzello\/9400228)\n\nMelissa Petruzzello\n\nFact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nAsk Anything\n\nYou open your lunch box to discover that the lovely apple you sliced this morning now appears unsightly and brown. Why does this happen? **This unappetizing phenomenon is actually due to a chain of biochemical reactions known as “enzymatic browning.”** When an [apple](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree) is injured (or cut into pieces), the [plant](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/plant) tissue is exposed to [oxygen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/oxygen). This triggers an [enzyme](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/enzyme) known as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to—wait for it—oxidize polyphenols in the apple’s flesh. This results in new chemicals (o-[quinones](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/quinone)), which then react with [amino acids](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/amino-acid) to produce brown-colored [melanins](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/melanin). Different apple varieties contain different amounts of both the initial enzyme and the polyphenols, and thus they brown at different rates.\n\nRelated Topics:\n\n[apple](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown)\n\nEnzymatic browning is not unique to apples. [Pears](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/pear), [bananas](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/banana-plant), and [eggplants](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/eggplant) also turn brown fairly quickly when cut. Enzymatic browning is also responsible for the desirable dark color of prunes, [coffee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/coffee), black [tea](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/tea-beverage), and [cocoa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/cocoa-food). To reduce browning in apples, keep the slices refrigerated to slow the reaction. You can also coat them with [lemon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/lemon) or [pineapple](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/pineapple) juice. The [acids](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/acid) in these juices slow the reaction, and the [antioxidants](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/antioxidant) [inhibit](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/inhibit) it. If you don’t mind the added sugar, covering the slices with [honey](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/honey), [caramel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/caramel), or [sugar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sugar-chemical-compound) syrup effectively blocks their exposure to oxygen. Scientists are working to [genetically engineer](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/genetic-engineering) apples that do not produce the PPO enzyme, so perhaps brown apples will someday be a thing of the past.\n\n[Melissa Petruzzello](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/melissa-petruzzello\/9400228)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nWhy Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\n[apple](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\n- [Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n- [Physical description](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352453)\n- [Cultivation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352454)\n- [History and domestication](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352452)\n\n[References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\n[Images & Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/images-videos)\n\n[![Apples](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/187222-004-BD739986\/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/187222-050-07B17FB6\/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg)  [![Apple flowers](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-004-6177FE08\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-050-17695863\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)\n\n[![How is the ripeness of an apple determined?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/89\/179989-138-4A6E5AB7\/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world\/-209247)\n\n[![Apple diversity](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-004-798310D4\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)  [![An apple orchard](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/94272-004-DC029E58\/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/94272-050-0F556190\/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)  [![Apple cultivation](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/84\/174384-004-9D872E2A\/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/84\/174384-050-ADF78B12\/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)\n\n[![The process of cider making in Normandy, France](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/97\/179897-138-E0A74D50\/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy\/-193392)\n\n[![apples](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/60\/5760-004-03AD45C3\/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/60\/5760-050-FCD7CDA2\/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg)  [![apple](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/14\/77414-004-30B131EC\/Apple.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/14\/77414-004-30B131EC\/Apple.jpg)  [![Apples ripening on a tree.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/77\/76377-004-5584CA41\/Apples-tree.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/77\/76377-050-29C2322A\/Apples-tree.jpg)\n\nAt a Glance\n\n[![apples](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/60\/5760-050-FCD7CDA2\/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\n[apple summary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![Chef tossing vegetables in a frying pan over a burner (skillet, food).](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/233857-131-6EDF46A6\/Chef-tossing-vegetables-frying-pan.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/whats-on-the-menu-vocabulary-quiz)\n\n[What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/whats-on-the-menu-vocabulary-quiz)\n\n[![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/245035-131-0C09D257\/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz)\n\n[Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz)\n\n[![Venus's-flytrap. Venus's-flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) one of the best known of the meat-eating plants. Carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, Venus fly trap](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/71\/166071-131-35933486\/Venus-flytrap-one-fly-trap-meat-eating-plants.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/plants-from-cute-to-carnivorous)\n\n[Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/plants-from-cute-to-carnivorous)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [What is an apple?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-is-an-apple)\n- [What does an apple tree look like?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-does-an-apple-tree-look-like)\n- [Where are apples commonly grown in the world?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Where-are-apples-commonly-grown-in-the-world)\n- [How are apples used in food and cooking?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/How-are-apples-used-in-food-and-cooking)\n- [Where do mango trees grow?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/Where-do-mango-trees-grow)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)\n\nContents\n\nAsk Anything\n\n[Entertainment & Pop Culture](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Entertainment-Pop-Culture)    [Food](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Food)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Apples](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/187222-050-07B17FB6\/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/187222-050-07B17FB6\/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg)\n\n[Apples](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/187222-050-07B17FB6\/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg) Ripening apples (*Malus domestica*).\n\n(more)\n\n# apple\nfruit and tree\n\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Malus domestica\n\nWritten and fact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\nLast updated\n\nMar. 30, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTaxonomy\n\n- **Kingdom:** [Plantae](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/plant)\n- **Division:** [Angiosperm](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/angiosperm)\n- **Order:** [Rosales](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/Rosales)\n- **Family:** [Rosaceae](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/Rosaceae)\n- **Genus:** *Malus*\n\n*See also* [list of plants in the family Rosaceae](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612)\n\nTop Questions\n\n### What is an apple?\nAn apple is the [fruit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fruit-plant-reproductive-body) of the apple tree, *Malus domestica*, a widely cultivated plant of the rose family ([Rosaceae](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/Rosaceae)). The modern apple is believed to have been domesticated from a wild apple, *M. sieversii*, in the Tien Shan mountains in Central Asia. The apple itself is a pome, a type of fleshy fruit. When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow. They are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though also used commercially for vinegar, juice, and other applications.\n\n### What does an apple tree look like?\nAn apple tree is generally a small tree. When untrimmed, it can reach 9 meters (30 feet) in height with a large crown diameter. Its bark is usually brown and scaly, and its simple, oval-shaped leaves have fine teeth along the edges. Apple flowers are showy, with five white petals often tinged with pink, and have numerous stamens. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers; most varieties need cross-pollination for fertilization.\n\n### What are some different types of apples?\nApple varieties are generally classified into cider, cooking, and dessert types. Dessert varieties emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, crispness, and tang. Popular dessert apples in the United States include Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious.\n\n### Where are apples commonly grown in the world?\nApples are grown in temperate zones between 30° and 60° latitude in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, requiring a distinct winter period. Apple trees thrive on rolling hilltops or sloping hillsides with well-drained soil. As of the early 21st century, the top apple producers include China, the United States, and Turkey. The cultivated apple is believed to have originated from *Malus sieversii* in Central Asia’s Tien Shan mountains between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago and spread to Western Europe via the [Silk Road](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Silk-Road-trade-route).\n\n### How are apples used in food and cooking?\nApples are a versatile fruit used in diverse culinary applications. Predominantly sold as fresh fruit, they can be cooked or eaten fresh. They are frequently used as a pastry filling, with apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. In Europe, fried apples often accompany sausage or pork dishes. Apples are also processed into [vinegar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter, and are used to make both sweet and hard (alcoholic) [cider](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/cider), apple wine, and [brandy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/brandy).\n\n**apple**, (*Malus domestica*), domesticated [tree](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/tree) and fruit of the [Rose family](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/Rosaceae), one of the most widely [cultivated](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/cultivated) tree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for [vinegar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global [crop](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/crop-agriculture) also is used for [cider](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/cider), [wine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/wine), and [brandy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/brandy). Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins [A](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/vitamin-A) and [C](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/vitamin-C), are high in [carbohydrates](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/carbohydrate), and are an excellent source of [dietary fiber](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/dietary-fiber).\n\n## Physical description\n[![Apple flowers](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-050-17695863\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-050-17695863\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)\n\n[Apple flowers](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-050-17695863\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)A close-up of white apple blossoms (*Malus domestica*). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens.\n\n(more)\n\nApple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be [grafted](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/grafted) onto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple [leaves](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/leaf-plant-anatomy) are roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white [petals](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/petal), often tinged with pink, and numerous [stamens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/stamen). The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the [blue orchard bee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/mason-bee) (*Osmia lignaria*) and [honeybees](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/western-honeybee), and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization.\n\n[![How is the ripeness of an apple determined?](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/89\/179989-138-4A6E5AB7\/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world\/-209247)\n\nHow is the ripeness of an apple determined?Learn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/images-videos)\n\nThe apple itself is a pome (fleshy) [fruit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fruit-plant-reproductive-body), in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and [edible](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/edible). When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in [tannin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/tannin). In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the [freezing point](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/freezing-point) of the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in [inert](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/inert) gases or in controlled atmospheres.\n\n[![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/245035-131-0C09D257\/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg) Britannica Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz)\n\n[![Apple diversity](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg?w=1000)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)\n\n[Apple diversity](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)A colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties.\n\n(more)\n\n## Cultivation\n[![An apple orchard](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/94272-050-0F556190\/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/94272-050-0F556190\/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)\n\n[An apple orchard](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/72\/94272-050-0F556190\/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)An autumnal apple orchard in Washington.\n\n(more)\n\nSince the apple requires a considerable period of [dormancy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/dormancy), it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short [growing season](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/growing-season). The [soils](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/soil) in which apple trees grow must be well drained; [fertilizers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/fertilizer) can be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold.\n\n[![Apple cultivation](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/84\/174384-050-ADF78B12\/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/84\/174384-050-ADF78B12\/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)\n\n[Apple cultivation](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/84\/174384-050-ADF78B12\/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)A farm spraying pesticides in an apple orchard.\n\n(more)\n\n[Scions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/Scions) of desired varieties are commonly [grafted](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/graft) onto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to [pruning](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/pruning) is required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against [insect](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/insect) pests and [diseases](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/plant-disease) and possibly to [delay](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/delay) spring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum.\n\n## History and domestication\n[![The process of cider making in Normandy, France](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/97\/179897-138-E0A74D50\/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy\/-193392)\n\nThe process of cider making in Normandy, FranceLearn how apple cider is made on a family farm in Normandy, France.\n\n(more)\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/images-videos)\n\n*Malus* [species](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/species-taxon) are native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple, *M. sieversii*, in the [Tien Shan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tien-Shan) mountains in [Central Asia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Central-Asia) some 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the [Silk Road](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Silk-Road-trade-route) and hybridized with a number of wild [crabapples](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/crabapple), including *M. baccata* from Siberia, *M. orientalis* from the Caucasus, and *M. sylvestris*, the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe.\n\nOver the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across [North America](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/North-America), it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed ([John Chapman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/John-Chapman)), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana.\n\nExplore Britannica Premium\\!\n\nTrusted knowledge for those who want to know more.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=shorter-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\n*([Read Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?”](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person))*\n\nKey People:\n\n[Johnny Appleseed](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/John-Chapman)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nRelated Topics:\n\n[How Oprah Got Sued for Dissing a Burger](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/a-brief-history-of-food-libel-laws)\n\n[fire blight](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fire-blight)\n\n[Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown)\n\n[Can Apple Seeds Kill You?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/can-apple-seeds-kill-you)\n\n[apple brandy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/apple-brandy)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\nOn the Web:\n\n[National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Apples and Apple By-Products: Antioxidant Properties and Food Applications](https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10376361\/) (Mar. 30, 2026)\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/apple-fruit-and-tree)\n\nIn the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China), the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States), and Turkey.\n\n[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419) This article was most recently revised and updated by [Melissa Petruzzello](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/melissa-petruzzello\/9400228).\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-179\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nApple\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\nLoad Next Page\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nPetruzzello, Melissa. \"Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 13 Jun. 2025, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown. Accessed 12 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown>\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*print* Print\n\nPlease select which sections you would like to print:\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nBritannica Editors. \"apple\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 30 Mar. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree. Accessed 12 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [Pennsylvania State University - PlantVillage - Apple](https:\/\/plantvillage.psu.edu\/topics\/apple\/infos)\n- [University of Illinois Extension - Apples](https:\/\/extension.illinois.edu\/fruit-trees\/apples)\n- [Royal Horticultural Society - Apples](https:\/\/www.rhs.org.uk\/fruit\/apples)\n- [Illinois Wildflowers - Apple](https:\/\/www.illinoiswildflowers.info\/trees\/plants\/apple.html)\n- [Cleveland Clinic - 7 Reasons Why Apples are Good for You](https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/benefits-of-apples)\n- [BBC - Is an apple a day really good for your health?](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20250620-is-an-apple-a-day-really-good-for-your-health)\n- [Ohio State University - Ohioline - Growing Apples in the Home Orchard](https:\/\/ohioline.osu.edu\/factsheet\/hyg-1401)\n- [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Apples and Apple By-Products: Antioxidant Properties and Food Applications](https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10376361\/)\n- [Healthline - Apples 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits](https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/foods\/apples)\n- [Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health - The Nutrition Source - Apples](https:\/\/nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu\/food-features\/apples\/)\n- [Frontiers - Origins of the Apple: The Role of Megafaunal Mutualism in the Domestication of Malus and Rosaceous Trees](https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/plant-science\/articles\/10.3389\/fpls.2019.00617\/full)\n- [WebMD - Health Benefits of Apples](https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/food-recipes\/benefits-apples)\n- [University of Minnesota Extension - Growing apples in the home garden](https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/fruit\/growing-apples)\n- [North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Apple](https:\/\/plants.ces.ncsu.edu\/plants\/malus-domestica\/)\n- [Wisconsin Horticulture - Training and Pruning Apple Trees](https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/training-and-pruning-apple-trees\/)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [apple - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/kids\/article\/apple\/352769)\n- [apple - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/apple\/272916)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Top Questions\n\n### What is an apple?\n### What does an apple tree look like?\n### What are some different types of apples?\n### Where are apples commonly grown in the world?\n### How are apples used in food and cooking?\n\n**apple**, (*Malus domestica*), domesticated [tree](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/tree) and fruit of the [Rose family](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/Rosaceae), one of the most widely [cultivated](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/cultivated) tree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for [vinegar](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global [crop](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/crop-agriculture) also is used for [cider](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/cider), [wine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/wine), and [brandy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/brandy). Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins [A](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/vitamin-A) and [C](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/vitamin-C), are high in [carbohydrates](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/carbohydrate), and are an excellent source of [dietary fiber](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/dietary-fiber).\n\n## Physical description\n[Apple flowers](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/26\/174626-050-17695863\/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)A close-up of white apple blossoms (*Malus domestica*). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens.\n\nApple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be [grafted](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/grafted) onto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple [leaves](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/leaf-plant-anatomy) are roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white [petals](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/petal), often tinged with pink, and numerous [stamens](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/stamen). The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the [blue orchard bee](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/mason-bee) (*Osmia lignaria*) and [honeybees](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/western-honeybee), and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization.\n\nHow is the ripeness of an apple determined?Learn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple.\n\n[See all videos for this article](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/apple-fruit-and-tree\/images-videos)\n\nThe apple itself is a pome (fleshy) [fruit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fruit-plant-reproductive-body), in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and [edible](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/edible). When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in [tannin](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/tannin). In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the [freezing point](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/freezing-point) of the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in [inert](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/inert) gases or in controlled atmospheres.\n\n[![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/35\/245035-131-0C09D257\/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg) Britannica Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz)\n\n[![Apple diversity](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg?w=1000)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)\n\n[Apple diversity](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/285130-050-A748E9CD\/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)A colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties.\n\n## Cultivation\nSince the apple requires a considerable period of [dormancy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/dormancy), it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short [growing season](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/growing-season). The [soils](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/soil) in which apple trees grow must be well drained; [fertilizers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/fertilizer) can be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold.\n\n[Scions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/Scions) of desired varieties are commonly [grafted](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/graft) onto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to [pruning](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/pruning) is required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against [insect](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/insect) pests and [diseases](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/plant-disease) and possibly to [delay](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/delay) spring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum.\n\n## History and domestication\n*Malus* [species](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/species-taxon) are native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple, *M. sieversii*, in the [Tien Shan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tien-Shan) mountains in [Central Asia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Central-Asia) some 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the [Silk Road](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Silk-Road-trade-route) and hybridized with a number of wild [crabapples](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/plant\/crabapple), including *M. baccata* from Siberia, *M. orientalis* from the Caucasus, and *M. sylvestris*, the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe.\n\nOver the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across [North America](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/North-America), it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed ([John Chapman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/John-Chapman)), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana.\n\nTrusted knowledge for those who want to know more.\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=shorter-2026)\n\n![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-left.webp)\n\n![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-right.webp)\n\n![Mobile](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/marketing\/inline-mobile.webp?w=400)\n\n*([Read Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?”](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person))*\n\nIn the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China), the [United States](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/United-States), and Turkey.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	Top Questions What is an apple? What does an apple tree look like? What are some different types of apples? Where are apples commonly grown in the world? How are apples used in food and cooking? apple , ( Malus domestica ), domesticated tree and fruit of the Rose family , one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for vinegar , juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global crop also is used for cider , wine , and brandy . Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins A and C , are high in carbohydrates , and are an excellent source of dietary fiber . Physical description Apple flowers A close-up of white apple blossoms ( Malus domestica ). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens. Apple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be grafted onto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple leaves are roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white petals , often tinged with pink, and numerous stamens . The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the blue orchard bee ( Osmia lignaria ) and honeybees , and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization. How is the ripeness of an apple determined? Learn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple. See all videos for this article The apple itself is a pome (fleshy) fruit , in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and edible . When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in tannin . In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the freezing point of the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in inert gases or in controlled atmospheres. Britannica Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz Apple diversity A colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties. Cultivation Since the apple requires a considerable period of dormancy , it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short growing season . The soils in which apple trees grow must be well drained; fertilizers can be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold. Scions of desired varieties are commonly grafted onto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to pruning is required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against insect pests and diseases and possibly to delay spring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum. History and domestication Malus species are native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple, M. sieversii , in the Tien Shan mountains in Central Asia some 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the Silk Road and hybridized with a number of wild crabapples , including M. baccata from Siberia, M. orientalis from the Caucasus, and M. sylvestris , the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe. Over the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across North America , it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed ( John Chapman ), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana. Trusted knowledge for those who want to know more. SUBSCRIBE ( Read Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?” ) In the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were China , the United States , and Turkey.
Markdown	[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) Login https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm\_source=premium\&utm\_medium=nav-login-box\&utm\_campaign=evergreen [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue) [Ask the Chatbot](https://www.britannica.com/chatbot) [Games & Quizzes](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse) [History & Society](https://www.britannica.com/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https://www.britannica.com/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https://www.britannica.com/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https://www.britannica.com/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https://www.britannica.com/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https://www.britannica.com/procon) [Money](https://www.britannica.com/money) [Videos](https://www.britannica.com/videos) [Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?](https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown) [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown/additional-info) [Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown) [Images](https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown/images-videos) [![Browning apple slices](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/195155-004-781D5548/Slices-apples-table.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/195155-050-56D2D09D/Slices-apples-table.jpg) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Contents Ask Anything [Science](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Science) [Plants](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Plants) [Flowering Plants](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Flowering-Plants) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Browning apple slices](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/195155-050-56D2D09D/Slices-apples-table.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/195155-050-56D2D09D/Slices-apples-table.jpg) [Browning apple slices](https://cdn.britannica.com/55/195155-050-56D2D09D/Slices-apples-table.jpg) Cut apples brown due to a chain of biochemical reactions known as “enzymatic browning.” (more) # Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown? What’s behind this unattractive phenomenon? Homework Help Written by [Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,...](https://www.britannica.com/editor/melissa-petruzzello/9400228) Melissa Petruzzello Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything You open your lunch box to discover that the lovely apple you sliced this morning now appears unsightly and brown. Why does this happen? This unappetizing phenomenon is actually due to a chain of biochemical reactions known as “enzymatic browning.” When an [apple](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree) is injured (or cut into pieces), the [plant](https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant) tissue is exposed to [oxygen](https://www.britannica.com/science/oxygen). This triggers an [enzyme](https://www.britannica.com/science/enzyme) known as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to—wait for it—oxidize polyphenols in the apple’s flesh. This results in new chemicals (o-[quinones](https://www.britannica.com/science/quinone)), which then react with [amino acids](https://www.britannica.com/science/amino-acid) to produce brown-colored [melanins](https://www.britannica.com/science/melanin). Different apple varieties contain different amounts of both the initial enzyme and the polyphenols, and thus they brown at different rates. Related Topics: [apple](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree) (Show more) [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown) Enzymatic browning is not unique to apples. [Pears](https://www.britannica.com/plant/pear), [bananas](https://www.britannica.com/plant/banana-plant), and [eggplants](https://www.britannica.com/plant/eggplant) also turn brown fairly quickly when cut. Enzymatic browning is also responsible for the desirable dark color of prunes, [coffee](https://www.britannica.com/topic/coffee), black [tea](https://www.britannica.com/topic/tea-beverage), and [cocoa](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cocoa-food). To reduce browning in apples, keep the slices refrigerated to slow the reaction. You can also coat them with [lemon](https://www.britannica.com/plant/lemon) or [pineapple](https://www.britannica.com/plant/pineapple) juice. The [acids](https://www.britannica.com/science/acid) in these juices slow the reaction, and the [antioxidants](https://www.britannica.com/science/antioxidant) [inhibit](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhibit) it. If you don’t mind the added sugar, covering the slices with [honey](https://www.britannica.com/topic/honey), [caramel](https://www.britannica.com/topic/caramel), or [sugar](https://www.britannica.com/science/sugar-chemical-compound) syrup effectively blocks their exposure to oxygen. Scientists are working to [genetically engineer](https://www.britannica.com/science/genetic-engineering) apples that do not produce the PPO enzyme, so perhaps brown apples will someday be a thing of the past. [Melissa Petruzzello](https://www.britannica.com/editor/melissa-petruzzello/9400228) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI chevron\_right Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown? close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [apple](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree) - [Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree) - [Physical description](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352453) - [Cultivation](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352454) - [History and domestication](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree#ref352452) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/apple-fruit-and-tree) [Images & Videos](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/images-videos) [![Apples](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/187222-004-BD739986/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/187222-050-07B17FB6/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg) [![Apple flowers](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-004-6177FE08/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-050-17695863/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg) [![How is the ripeness of an apple determined?](https://cdn.britannica.com/89/179989-138-4A6E5AB7/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world/-209247) [![Apple diversity](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-004-798310D4/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg) [![An apple orchard](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/94272-004-DC029E58/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/94272-050-0F556190/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg) [![Apple cultivation](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/174384-004-9D872E2A/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/174384-050-ADF78B12/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg) [![The process of cider making in Normandy, France](https://cdn.britannica.com/97/179897-138-E0A74D50/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy/-193392) [![apples](https://cdn.britannica.com/60/5760-004-03AD45C3/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/60/5760-050-FCD7CDA2/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg) [![apple](https://cdn.britannica.com/14/77414-004-30B131EC/Apple.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/14/77414-004-30B131EC/Apple.jpg) [![Apples ripening on a tree.](https://cdn.britannica.com/77/76377-004-5584CA41/Apples-tree.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/77/76377-050-29C2322A/Apples-tree.jpg) At a Glance [![apples](https://cdn.britannica.com/60/5760-050-FCD7CDA2/Apples-Malus-domestica.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/summary/apple-fruit-and-tree) [apple summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/apple-fruit-and-tree) Quizzes [![Chef tossing vegetables in a frying pan over a burner (skillet, food).](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/233857-131-6EDF46A6/Chef-tossing-vegetables-frying-pan.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/whats-on-the-menu-vocabulary-quiz) [What’s on the Menu? Vocabulary Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/whats-on-the-menu-vocabulary-quiz) [![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/245035-131-0C09D257/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz) [Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz) [![Venus's-flytrap. Venus's-flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) one of the best known of the meat-eating plants. Carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, Venus fly trap](https://cdn.britannica.com/71/166071-131-35933486/Venus-flytrap-one-fly-trap-meat-eating-plants.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/plants-from-cute-to-carnivorous) [Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/plants-from-cute-to-carnivorous) Related Questions - [What is an apple?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-an-apple) - [What does an apple tree look like?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-does-an-apple-tree-look-like) - [Where are apples commonly grown in the world?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Where-are-apples-commonly-grown-in-the-world) - [How are apples used in food and cooking?](https://www.britannica.com/question/How-are-apples-used-in-food-and-cooking) - [Where do mango trees grow?](https://www.britannica.com/question/Where-do-mango-trees-grow) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Contents Ask Anything [Entertainment & Pop Culture](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture) [Food](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Food) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Apples](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/187222-050-07B17FB6/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/187222-050-07B17FB6/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg) [Apples](https://cdn.britannica.com/22/187222-050-07B17FB6/apples-on-a-tree-branch.jpg) Ripening apples (Malus domestica). (more) # apple fruit and tree Homework Help Also known as: Malus domestica Written and fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 30, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Taxonomy - Kingdom: [Plantae](https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant) - Division: [Angiosperm](https://www.britannica.com/plant/angiosperm) - Order: [Rosales](https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosales) - Family: [Rosaceae](https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae) - Genus: Malus See also [list of plants in the family Rosaceae](https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612) Top Questions ### What is an apple? An apple is the [fruit](https://www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body) of the apple tree, Malus domestica, a widely cultivated plant of the rose family ([Rosaceae](https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae)). The modern apple is believed to have been domesticated from a wild apple, M. sieversii, in the Tien Shan mountains in Central Asia. The apple itself is a pome, a type of fleshy fruit. When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow. They are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though also used commercially for vinegar, juice, and other applications. ### What does an apple tree look like? An apple tree is generally a small tree. When untrimmed, it can reach 9 meters (30 feet) in height with a large crown diameter. Its bark is usually brown and scaly, and its simple, oval-shaped leaves have fine teeth along the edges. Apple flowers are showy, with five white petals often tinged with pink, and have numerous stamens. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers; most varieties need cross-pollination for fertilization. ### What are some different types of apples? Apple varieties are generally classified into cider, cooking, and dessert types. Dessert varieties emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, crispness, and tang. Popular dessert apples in the United States include Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. ### Where are apples commonly grown in the world? Apples are grown in temperate zones between 30° and 60° latitude in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, requiring a distinct winter period. Apple trees thrive on rolling hilltops or sloping hillsides with well-drained soil. As of the early 21st century, the top apple producers include China, the United States, and Turkey. The cultivated apple is believed to have originated from Malus sieversii in Central Asia’s Tien Shan mountains between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago and spread to Western Europe via the [Silk Road](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silk-Road-trade-route). ### How are apples used in food and cooking? Apples are a versatile fruit used in diverse culinary applications. Predominantly sold as fresh fruit, they can be cooked or eaten fresh. They are frequently used as a pastry filling, with apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. In Europe, fried apples often accompany sausage or pork dishes. Apples are also processed into [vinegar](https://www.britannica.com/topic/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter, and are used to make both sweet and hard (alcoholic) [cider](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cider), apple wine, and [brandy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/brandy). apple, (Malus domestica), domesticated [tree](https://www.britannica.com/plant/tree) and fruit of the [Rose family](https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae), one of the most widely [cultivated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivated) tree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for [vinegar](https://www.britannica.com/topic/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global [crop](https://www.britannica.com/topic/crop-agriculture) also is used for [cider](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cider), [wine](https://www.britannica.com/topic/wine), and [brandy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/brandy). Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins [A](https://www.britannica.com/science/vitamin-A) and [C](https://www.britannica.com/science/vitamin-C), are high in [carbohydrates](https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate), and are an excellent source of [dietary fiber](https://www.britannica.com/science/dietary-fiber). ## Physical description [![Apple flowers](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-050-17695863/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-050-17695863/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg) [Apple flowers](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-050-17695863/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)A close-up of white apple blossoms (Malus domestica). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens. (more) Apple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be [grafted](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/grafted) onto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple [leaves](https://www.britannica.com/science/leaf-plant-anatomy) are roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white [petals](https://www.britannica.com/science/petal), often tinged with pink, and numerous [stamens](https://www.britannica.com/science/stamen). The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the [blue orchard bee](https://www.britannica.com/animal/mason-bee) (Osmia lignaria) and [honeybees](https://www.britannica.com/animal/western-honeybee), and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization. [![How is the ripeness of an apple determined?](https://cdn.britannica.com/89/179989-138-4A6E5AB7/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/smell-signature-taste-one-fruits-world/-209247) How is the ripeness of an apple determined?Learn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/images-videos) The apple itself is a pome (fleshy) [fruit](https://www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body), in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and [edible](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/edible). When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in [tannin](https://www.britannica.com/science/tannin). In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the [freezing point](https://www.britannica.com/science/freezing-point) of the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in [inert](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/inert) gases or in controlled atmospheres. [![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/245035-131-0C09D257/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg) Britannica Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz) [![Apple diversity](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg?w=1000)](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg) [Apple diversity](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)A colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties. (more) ## Cultivation [![An apple orchard](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/94272-050-0F556190/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/94272-050-0F556190/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg) [An apple orchard](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/94272-050-0F556190/Apple-orchard-Washington.jpg)An autumnal apple orchard in Washington. (more) Since the apple requires a considerable period of [dormancy](https://www.britannica.com/science/dormancy), it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short [growing season](https://www.britannica.com/topic/growing-season). The [soils](https://www.britannica.com/science/soil) in which apple trees grow must be well drained; [fertilizers](https://www.britannica.com/topic/fertilizer) can be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold. [![Apple cultivation](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/174384-050-ADF78B12/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/174384-050-ADF78B12/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg) [Apple cultivation](https://cdn.britannica.com/84/174384-050-ADF78B12/farming-agriculture-apple-orchard-tank-sprayer-insecticide-pesticide.jpg)A farm spraying pesticides in an apple orchard. (more) [Scions](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Scions) of desired varieties are commonly [grafted](https://www.britannica.com/topic/graft) onto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to [pruning](https://www.britannica.com/topic/pruning) is required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against [insect](https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect) pests and [diseases](https://www.britannica.com/science/plant-disease) and possibly to [delay](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delay) spring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum. ## History and domestication [![The process of cider making in Normandy, France](https://cdn.britannica.com/97/179897-138-E0A74D50/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/cider-family-farm-France-Normandy/-193392) The process of cider making in Normandy, FranceLearn how apple cider is made on a family farm in Normandy, France. (more) [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/images-videos) Malus [species](https://www.britannica.com/science/species-taxon) are native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple, M. sieversii, in the [Tien Shan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tien-Shan) mountains in [Central Asia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Central-Asia) some 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the [Silk Road](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silk-Road-trade-route) and hybridized with a number of wild [crabapples](https://www.britannica.com/plant/crabapple), including M. baccata from Siberia, M. orientalis from the Caucasus, and M. sylvestris, the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe. Over the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across [North America](https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America), it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed ([John Chapman](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Chapman)), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana. Explore Britannica Premium\! Trusted knowledge for those who want to know more. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=shorter-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) ([Read Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?”](https://www.britannica.com/story/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person)) Key People: [Johnny Appleseed](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Chapman) (Show more) Related Topics: [How Oprah Got Sued for Dissing a Burger](https://www.britannica.com/story/a-brief-history-of-food-libel-laws) [fire blight](https://www.britannica.com/science/fire-blight) [Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?](https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown) [Can Apple Seeds Kill You?](https://www.britannica.com/story/can-apple-seeds-kill-you) [apple brandy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/apple-brandy) (Show more) On the Web: [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Apples and Apple By-Products: Antioxidant Properties and Food Applications](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10376361/) (Mar. 30, 2026) (Show more) [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/apple-fruit-and-tree) In the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China), the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), and Turkey. [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) This article was most recently revised and updated by [Melissa Petruzzello](https://www.britannica.com/editor/melissa-petruzzello/9400228). ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-179/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.179.9)Britannica AI chevron\_right Apple close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Petruzzello, Melissa. "Why Do Sliced Apples Turn Brown?". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Jun. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown. Accessed 12 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-sliced-apples-turn-brown> Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Britannica Editors. "apple". Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree. Accessed 12 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree> External Websites - [Pennsylvania State University - PlantVillage - Apple](https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/apple/infos) - [University of Illinois Extension - Apples](https://extension.illinois.edu/fruit-trees/apples) - [Royal Horticultural Society - Apples](https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples) - [Illinois Wildflowers - Apple](https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/apple.html) - [Cleveland Clinic - 7 Reasons Why Apples are Good for You](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-apples) - [BBC - Is an apple a day really good for your health?](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250620-is-an-apple-a-day-really-good-for-your-health) - [Ohio State University - Ohioline - Growing Apples in the Home Orchard](https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1401) - [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Apples and Apple By-Products: Antioxidant Properties and Food Applications](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10376361/) - [Healthline - Apples 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/apples) - [Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health - The Nutrition Source - Apples](https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/apples/) - [Frontiers - Origins of the Apple: The Role of Megafaunal Mutualism in the Domestication of Malus and Rosaceous Trees](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00617/full) - [WebMD - Health Benefits of Apples](https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/benefits-apples) - [University of Minnesota Extension - Growing apples in the home garden](https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-apples) - [North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Apple](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malus-domestica/) - [Wisconsin Horticulture - Training and Pruning Apple Trees](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/training-and-pruning-apple-trees/) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [apple - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/apple/352769) - [apple - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/apple/272916)
Readable Markdown	Top Questions ### What is an apple? ### What does an apple tree look like? ### What are some different types of apples? ### Where are apples commonly grown in the world? ### How are apples used in food and cooking? apple, (Malus domestica), domesticated [tree](https://www.britannica.com/plant/tree) and fruit of the [Rose family](https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae), one of the most widely [cultivated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivated) tree fruits. Apples are predominantly grown for sale as fresh fruit, though apples are also used commercially for [vinegar](https://www.britannica.com/topic/vinegar), juice, jelly, applesauce, and apple butter and are canned as pie stock. A significant portion of the global [crop](https://www.britannica.com/topic/crop-agriculture) also is used for [cider](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cider), [wine](https://www.britannica.com/topic/wine), and [brandy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/brandy). Fresh apples are eaten raw or cooked. There are a variety of ways in which cooked apples are used; frequently, they are used as a pastry filling, apple pie being perhaps the archetypal American dessert. Especially in Europe, fried apples characteristically accompany certain dishes of sausage or pork. Apples provide vitamins [A](https://www.britannica.com/science/vitamin-A) and [C](https://www.britannica.com/science/vitamin-C), are high in [carbohydrates](https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate), and are an excellent source of [dietary fiber](https://www.britannica.com/science/dietary-fiber). ## Physical description [Apple flowers](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/174626-050-17695863/fruit-apple-blossom-malus-domestica-orchard-Michigan.jpg)A close-up of white apple blossoms (Malus domestica). Each has numerous pollen-producing stamens. Apple trees are generally small trees, and a given variety can be [grafted](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/grafted) onto dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks for smaller and less vigorous plants. If left untrimmed, a tree grown with standard (seedling) rootstock will often reach a height of 9 meters (30 feet) with an equally large crown diameter. The bark is usually brown and scaly. The simple [leaves](https://www.britannica.com/science/leaf-plant-anatomy) are roughly oval in shape and usually have fine teeth along the margins. Apple flowers are showy with five white [petals](https://www.britannica.com/science/petal), often tinged with pink, and numerous [stamens](https://www.britannica.com/science/stamen). The flowers are pollinated by bees, particularly the [blue orchard bee](https://www.britannica.com/animal/mason-bee) (Osmia lignaria) and [honeybees](https://www.britannica.com/animal/western-honeybee), and other insects, and most varieties require cross-pollination for fertilization. How is the ripeness of an apple determined?Learn what creates the signature taste and smell of one of the world's favorite fruits—the apple. [See all videos for this article](https://www.britannica.com/plant/apple-fruit-and-tree/images-videos) The apple itself is a pome (fleshy) [fruit](https://www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body), in which the ripened ovary and surrounding tissue both become fleshy and [edible](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/edible). When harvested, apples are usually roundish, 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) in diameter, and some shade of red, green, or yellow in color; they vary in size, shape, and acidity depending on the variety, of which there are thousands. Apple varieties fall into three broad classes: (1) cider varieties, (2) cooking varieties, and (3) dessert varieties, which differ widely but tend to emphasize color, size, aroma, smoothness, and perhaps crispness and tang. Many varieties are relatively high in sugar, only mildly acidic, and very low in [tannin](https://www.britannica.com/science/tannin). In the United States, popular dessert varieties include the Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Apple varieties that ripen during late summer are generally of poor quality for storage, while those that ripen in late autumn may be stored for as long as one year. For long holding, temperatures only slightly above the [freezing point](https://www.britannica.com/science/freezing-point) of the fruit are generally desirable. Apples may also be stored in [inert](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/inert) gases or in controlled atmospheres. [![Red and yellow cherry tomatoes, some forming a question mark, against a light blue background. (organic, fruits, vegetables)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/245035-131-0C09D257/red-and-yellow-cherry-tomatoes.jpg) Britannica Quiz Fruit or Vegetable? A Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/fruit-or-vegetable-a-quiz) [![Apple diversity](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg?w=1000)](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg) [Apple diversity](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/285130-050-A748E9CD/Various-kinds-of-apples-on-table.jpg)A colorful array of heirloom and commercial apple varieties. ## Cultivation Since the apple requires a considerable period of [dormancy](https://www.britannica.com/science/dormancy), it thrives in areas having a distinct winter period, generally from latitude 30° to 60°, both north and south. Northward, apple growing is limited by low winter temperatures and a short [growing season](https://www.britannica.com/topic/growing-season). The [soils](https://www.britannica.com/science/soil) in which apple trees grow must be well drained; [fertilizers](https://www.britannica.com/topic/fertilizer) can be used if the yield is not high enough. Rolling hilltops or the sloping sides of hills are preferred because they provide “air drainage,” allowing the colder, heavier air to drain away to the valley below during frosty spring nights, when blossoms or young fruit would be destroyed by exposure to cold. [Scions](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Scions) of desired varieties are commonly [grafted](https://www.britannica.com/topic/graft) onto hardy nursery seedlings of about 18 months of age; orchard planting follows one or two years later. Management during the six to eight years before appreciable apple production is reached may consist of little more than protection from competing vegetation and pests. Careful attention to [pruning](https://www.britannica.com/topic/pruning) is required, however, especially during the first five years, so that the main scaffold branches will be well distributed along the trunk and to prevent development of weak crotches, which can break under heavy fruit loads. With mature trees, a rigorous spraying regime must be followed to protect against [insect](https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect) pests and [diseases](https://www.britannica.com/science/plant-disease) and possibly to [delay](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delay) spring development, to thin young fruit, and to hold the autumn drop of ripening fruit to a minimum. ## History and domestication Malus [species](https://www.britannica.com/science/species-taxon) are native to the temperate zones of both hemispheres. The cultivated apple is thought to have been domesticated from a wild apple, M. sieversii, in the [Tien Shan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tien-Shan) mountains in [Central Asia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Central-Asia) some 4,000–10,000 years ago. From there it spread to western Europe along the [Silk Road](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silk-Road-trade-route) and hybridized with a number of wild [crabapples](https://www.britannica.com/plant/crabapple), including M. baccata from Siberia, M. orientalis from the Caucasus, and M. sylvestris, the major secondary genetic contributor, from other parts of Europe. Over the centuries, improved selections have been made, and distinct varieties were recognized more than 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of varieties were recognized in Europe before the settlement of the Americas. As the wave of colonial settlement moved across [North America](https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America), it was accompanied by the distribution of seedling apple varieties, first by Native Americans and trappers and later by settlers and itinerants who became local legendary figures, the most prominent being Johnny Appleseed ([John Chapman](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Chapman)), a professional nurseryman who planted apple trees extensively in Ohio and Indiana. Trusted knowledge for those who want to know more. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=shorter-2026) ![Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-left.webp) ![shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-right.webp) ![Mobile](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/inline-mobile.webp?w=400) ([Read Britannica’s essay “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?”](https://www.britannica.com/story/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person)) In the first quarter of the 21st century, the largest producers of apples were [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China), the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), and Turkey.
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