BY VINITA BHATIA
Did you roll your eyes every time your mother pushed an apple your way and told you eat it saying, ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’? Well, there might be some truth in this adage after all!
According to a recent release by the US Apple Association (USApple), eating apples can be one of the most convenient ways to fight heart disease, the leading cause of death globally. Commenting on this, Wendy Brannen, Director of Consumer Health and Public Relations, USApple said, “Not only are apples versatile and delicious, but they are a super food packed with powerful antioxidants and heart health benefits.”
Nutrition Consultant Geetu Amarnani added, “Eating one large apple provides 20% of the recommended daily value of dietary fibre, 8% of the antioxidant Vitamin C, and 7% of your day’s potassium, all for only 130 calories. Besides containing a wide variety of flavonoid compounds good for the heart, it is low in calories and fat, low in sodium and contains vitamins, minerals and fibre. It helps in increasing health and vitality to keep active throughout the day. The phytochemicals present in apples help to reduce the problems such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and asthma.”
This might come as great news for time-starved parents who can convince their children to munch on an apple for breakfast or evening snacks. But family physician Dr Dilip Patel, while accepting that the fruit is a great source of fibre and helps in maintaining colon health, cautions that it might not keep his patients away.
“It is a great fruit, but only if you are replacing it for other high-calorie food stuffs or junk food. Also, you need to include other major food groups in your diet and not rely on a single fruit to keep you healthy,” he noted.
SOUGHT AFTER BY F&B INDUSTRY TOO
What, however, is making the apple very popular, not just amongst consumers, but also the hospitality industry is its easy availability all through the year. Chefs, therefore, ensure that it is prominently displayed on all meal buffets as well as à la carte and food promotion menus. While indigenous varieties like Kinnaur apples from Himachal Pradesh are much sought, these days the F&B industry is relying on imported varieties as well, since these are easily obtainable.
This dependency is also seasonal, especially around the months of April to August, when the Indian varieties are difficult to find. That is when chefs depend most on imported apples, as April-May is the peak season for the hospitality industry.
There are around 7,500 apple varieties grown globally and China is the largest producer. In India, apples are grown in five states – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland – and majority of the production takes place in the first three states.
Around 100 varieties are grown in the US today, especially in the commercial orchards of Washington State. Some of the popular variants of Washington apples, which are now available in India are juicy Red Delicious, crisp and very sweet Gala, green and juicy Granny Smith to name a few.
Keith Sunderlal of The SCS Group, which represents the Washington Apple Commission in India said, “The demand for delicious Washington Apples has been on the rise and this nutritious fruit is now available in retail chains and local fruit sellers across India.” His group also sells to most hospitality chains in the country as well as large caterers.
Well, it might take more than an apple to keep the doctor away. But the hospitality industry is definitely happy to keeping going back to this fruit to keep their guests come back for more. And their guests aren’t complaining either!
