Apples: A Fall Favorite

Price Chopper Supermarkets ushers in fall with several varieties of delicious apples brought straight from the farm to your local store.   One of those farms is Hudson River Fruit Distributors, managed by the Albinder family in Milton, New York.   “We maintain our orchards meticulously, constantly replanting, updating our varieties, and replenishing older trees with new. We are environmentally conscious and extremely health conscious, always keeping abreast of all developments regarding food safety,” the Albinders say.   Throughout the apple season, follow us on Twitter and get the latest on various types of fresh apples being delivered to our stores, and fan us on Facebook for special apple trivia and giveaways.  “Being in apple country the start of the new apple season signals the change of seasons; all the different varieties of apples have unique tastes and uses,” said Keith Frosceno, Price Chopper Vice President of Produce Merchandising.  We’ll be at the Warwick Apple Festival and the Southington Apple Harvest Festival this year.  For more on the apple harvest, check with the New York Apple Association , the New England Apple Growers Association or the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program.  Enjoy these apple fun facts and recipes from Maureen Murphy, Price Chopper Supermarkets Manager of Consumer Trends, Nutrition and Lifestyles.  Did You Know …        Apples are the ideal snack: portable, delicious, free of fat, cholesterol and sodium, high in dietary fiber and contain valuable vitamins and minerals.        Good for digestion, one apple provides as much dietary fiber as a serving of bran cereal, about one-fifth of the recommended daily intake.         Protect your heart! Research confirms that the antioxidant phytonutrients found in apples help fight the damaging effects of LDL (bad) cholesterol.        Apples also contain the essential trace element, boron, which has been shown to strengthen bones – a good defense against osteoporosis.  “When choosing apples it helps to know which varieties are best suited for baking and cooking and which are best for simply eating,” Maureen says.  “For eating fresh choose: Braeburn, Crispin, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Ida Red, Jonagold, Macoun, McIntosh, Red Delicious and Winesap.  “For baking or cooking choose: Crispin, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Ida Red, Jonagold, Jonathan, McIntosh, Rome and Winesap.  “Maintain the great health benefits of apples by keeping added sugar and fat to a minimum.    Two apple-rich recipes that score high in both flavor and nutrition:  Apple Salsa 2 tart apples  4 Tbs. lime juice  1 fresh jalapeño, seeded and minced  ½ cup chopped red bell pepper  ¼ cup chopped, sweet onion  2 Tbs. finely chopped fresh cilantro  ¼ tsp. dried ginger  salt to taste  Core apples leaving skin on and cut into small cubes.  Toss apples with the lime juice.  Add jalapeño, red pepper, onion, cilantro, ginger, and salt and mix well.  Refrigerate for 6-8 hours.  Makes approximately 1 cup.  Serve with pork tenderloin or pork chops.  Pork Chops with Apples and Thyme  This EatingWell™ recipe card and others like it can be found on the Healthy U recipe card rack in Price Chopper stores.  ¾ cup Price Chopper reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided  2 tsp. Price Chopper corn starch  2 tsp. Price Chopper olive oil  4 4-ounce boneless pork chops, 1/2˝ thick  1 small onion, sliced  1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled and sliced  ¼ cup Price Chopper apple juice  2 tsp. Price Chopper dijon mustard  ¼ tsp. dried thyme  Mix 2 Tbs. chicken broth and cornstarch in small bowl.  Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add chops and cook until browned, 2-3, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining broth, juice, mustard, thyme and the cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring until thickened and glossy, about 1 minute. Return the chops to the pan and heat through. Serve immediately. Serves 4.