In-Depth Description
Most of the “healthy” fruits found in your local market or grocery store are not native to North America. Fruit trees, including apple, pear, cherry, peach, nectarine, citrus and bananas are believed to all be native to Asia and Europe. Historical research suggests that apple seeds were first brought to the colonies by the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. One of the few comfort foods reminiscent of their former home, apples quickly grew in popularity, with orchards being grown from seed rather than grafting. It is also reported that the first apple trees in North America grew from seeds brought by French Jesuits in the late sixteenth century. It is believed that the first apple orchard on the North American continent was planted in Boston by Reverend William Blaxton in 1625. However, it should be known that the only apples native to North America are crabapples, which were once called “common apples”. There are now 7,500 varieties of apples grown throughout the world and over 100 varieties grown commercially in the United States.
