VIENNA, Va. – The 2002 crop of U.S. apples is now making its way to supermarkets and farmers' markets nationwide, the U.S. apple industry's trade group has announced. This year's apple harvest is projected to yield 213.3 million bushels this season, or roughly 85 apples per U.S. resident, according to the U.S. Apple Association (USApple).

While smaller than usual – this year's crop is the smallest on record since 1986 – fruit quality and the varietal mix of this year's crop are reported to be excellent from coast to coast, amongst the best in recent memory industry watchers say. Meanwhile, the latest health news about apples is giving consumers new reasons to get their "apple a day" every day, USApple reports.

"The industry is expecting a very healthy crop, in terms of variety and quality of the apples," said USApple spokesperson Julia Daly. "And with all the positive nutritional benefits of apples being reported, the new crop will also be healthful for consumers."

Celebrate National Apple Month With A Different Apple Every Day
The industry will celebrate National Apple Month next month just as significant volumes of the 2002 crop begin arriving at markets, and consumers will immediately notice the industry's expanding production of a wider selection of varieties. While Red Delicious and Golden Delicious remain firmly planted at the top of the list of varieties grown here, and historic varieties like McIntosh are perennial favorites, U.S. growers are diversifying to provide even greater consumer choice. Popular new varieties include Braeburn, Cameo, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp and Pink Lady.

"Every variety brings something different to the table," punned Daly. "This year is going to be a great year to try all the different apple varieties – there's a flavor for every day of the week, and then some."

Old Adage Takes on New Meaning
As the U.S. apple industry delivers its newest and best to the market, the latest research news is providing more proof of that old adage about "an apple a day." A newly-released study is reporting that apples may keep the doctor away by reducing the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and asthma. Researchers at the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, reported their findings in this month's edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Recent research is also demonstrating that processed apple foods such as apple juice may provide health benefits. University of California-Davis researchers reported in the February 2001 edition of the Journal of Medicinal Food that adults who added either two apples or 12 ounces of apple juice to their daily diet reduced an important marker for heart disease after only six weeks. The first U.S. human study of its kind, UC-Davis researchers found apples and apple juice may slow the cholesterol oxidation process involved in the buildup of plaque that leads to heart disease.

"As the scientific data piles up to help support the saying, 'an apple a day', should we revise that saying to two apples a day?" pondered Daly. "With all the news of apple and apple products' health benefits, it wouldn't hurt to eat at least one apple and a glass of apple juice, every day, for our better health."

Note: "Apple Bits" is provided by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), to disseminate news and information about the health benefits of apples and apple products. The text of this release can be downloaded from the Consumer and Health Media section of USApple's Web site, at http://www.usapple.org. Also, visit the USApple Web site for more information on the 2002 apple harvest, as well as apples and apple products.

Need apple photos? Check out the Media section's Image Library, or contact us for a copy of our creative support CD containing high-resolution digital images of the best photos from USApple's library.

USApple is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 40 state and regional apple associations representing the approximately 8,000 apple growers throughout the country and more than 450 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple's mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably market apples and apple products.