The apple is a native of Caucasus Mountain and has been cultivated from Pre-history times. It is now grown in all parts of the world. Apple is a fleshy fruit of the tree of the speciesMalus domesticaand it is in the rose familyRosaceae.The apple is a pomaceous fruit, prized for its high yields and long storage life. The tree is believed to have originated from Asia, and now more than 7,500 varieties of the fruits are grown all over the world. The apple tree usually grows to about 5-12 m in height. They are available in a number of sizes, shapes, colours, etc. Apples are very helpful in the maintenance of good health and in the treatment of many diseases. Apples are indicative of good health as shown below:

• They are a source of mineral called boron, which helps promote strong bone growth.
• Apples are useful in dry hacking cough.
• Apple juice is useful in kidney stone trouble.
• Apples aid in the lowering of blood cholesterol level, with the help of Pectin present in them.
• Good for asthma, heart disease, and cancers such as lung, breast, colon, and liver
• Apples are very useful in acute and chronic dysentery among children.
• To maintain urinary tract health.
• For the treatment of constipation apples are very helpful.

Varieties of Apples:-

• Red delicious applesare beautiful apple—deep red, tall and thin always grown big.

• Golden delicious applesthin skin, a sweeter taste than red delicious. All-purpose apple- snacking, cooking, and baking.  Available September to June.

• Fujiapple is fragrant sweet, crisp and juicy, green to yellow in colour.

• Gala applesareis sweet, slightly spicy, crisp and juicy with with a golden skin finely mottled with red colors

• Wine sap applesare tart, spicy, with a distinctive flavor and wine like flavor. Available November to July.

• Granny Smith:This variety has a freckled green skin and has a sweet tart, moderately juicy flesh

• Granny Smith applesare freckled green. They have a mild flavor with a good balance of sweetness and tartness, moderately juicy flesh. Available all year round.

• McIntosh appleswere developed by a farmer named John McIntosh. It has a bright red skin sometimes tinged with green, and a medium-crisp, tart-sweet. Available September to June.

• Romeapplescalled "Rome Beauty," originate in Rome, Ohio.It has a deep red skin color. Available October to August.

This fruit is generally taken raw and is used as a dessert fruit and also as a salad and taken with other fruits, cooked or baked also. Dried apple, apple jelly, apple juice or cider and vinegar are the forms of apple. Fruits should be thoroughly washed and cleaned eating them.