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We hiked up a short gravel road to take a look at the apple trees that were hugging the hillside. On the other side of the gravel road were raspberry canes that were covered with net to keep the birds out and a few pear trees. The owner and grower gave our group a little information about the growing process and season and told us about the different varieties of apples that they grew on their fruit farm.
Then we walked back down the short gravel road to a dining area where the grower's sister served up her specialty -- Heidi's Apple Pie. While we indulged in her tasty treat, along with freshly pressed apple cider, she demonstrated some techniques for peeling apples and gave us a little more history about their farm.
It was a beautiful sunny morning, the temperature was in the low 70s and we spent some time taking pictures outside of the farm and the scenery. That sounds like a pretty typical outing to the apple orchard in September in Minnesota, doesn't it? However, at the tables next to us in the dining area, there were people speaking German and Norwegian. And the scenery that we were taking pictures of included a deep fjord and rugged, snow-capped mountains in the distance. We were definitely not at the local Minnesota apple orchard. We were at a fruit farm in Norway!
Last month I got to take a "bucket-list" trip and spend some time in Norway and Sweden. It was an adventure and so fun to get to spend some time in the land my ancestors hail from. Of course, being in the "food" business is always fun when you're away from home too! It's interesting to see what other areas of the world and cultures like to eat and the choices they have.
At the fruit farm in Norway, I asked about the variety of apples that they grow. I wondered if they would sound familiar to me, but they didn't. There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples grown worldwide, with about 2,500 cultivated in the United States. About 100 of these are grown commercially. The growing season and climate dictate what type of apple does best in which area. For example, the popular Honeycrisp apple was originally developed in Minnesota and has a superb sweet flavor and undeniable crunch.
Another well-known variety of apple was available on the Fruit Club truck this past weekend -- the Golden Delicious apple. Washington state is known for its red and golden Delicious apples. They too are a sweet apple with a nice crisp texture. Some varieties of apples are best eaten raw or in salads, such as the Honeycrisp and Delicious apples. Others are more amenable to baking and soften up well when they are heated, such as the Jonathan or Wealthy varieties.
The Heidi's Apple Pie that we were served was different from what we consider "pie" that has a double pastry crust with sweetened fruit in between. Her pie dough was more like a cake or a biscuit that had been pressed into the bottom of a round springform pan. This was topped with a cooked and sweetened apple filling and then topped with a bit more of the crumbled pie dough on the top and baked. It was served with whipped cream and a garnish of Lingonberry jam. It was yummy. I did get the recipe and it is written in English. However, the measurements are in grams and deciliters and so I am going to have to work on the metric conversions and practice making it a couple times before a I serve it to guests or share the recipe!
Nutrition-wise, apples are best eaten with the skin on. Most of the nutrients are found in the skin as is the fiber. An apple with the skin is a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. It's also low in fat and sodium. A medium sized apple contains about 80-100 calories. Now is the perfect time to enjoy them when they are in season.
Thanks to Rachelle Deutz, the Hy-Vee dietitian, for doing a couple extra columns last month when I was gone.
Cheryl Rude is a registered dietitian at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center.