You know 'em, you love 'em, they keep the doctor away and fill our tummys when we need a yummy snack. The apple. Here are some fun facts and question answered about this common, widely loved fruit.

What are some different varieties of Apples?

There are tons of varieties of apples, in the US alone there are 2500 different types, though only 100 of these are grown commercially. Worldwide, there are 7500 different types of apples! China is the leading producer of apples, followed by the US, then Iran and Turkey. Among the most common in the US are: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Rome Beauty, Winesap and Fuji.

Apple Nutrition:

Apples maybe not be the Vitamin C winner that so many other fruits are, but they're a wonderful source of antioxidants and a fantastic source of fiber. Some of the positive health benefits from apples are: weight loss, cholesterol control, heart disease and even colon cancer thanks to all that fiber.

How To Store Apples:

While commercial companies can store apples for months, thanks to controlled atmosphere chambers, us folks at home must make do on a smaller scale. Most types of apples can be stored successfully in the coolest part of the fridge for around 2 weeks. In fact, some varieties, such as Fuji or Granny Smith can be stored for even longer. Just remember, apples ripen 6-10 times faster at room temperature than when refrigerated.

Sliced apples turn brown pretty quickly due to oxygen exposure, so you'll want to either cut them right before eating or squirt some lemon on the slices to delay the browning reaction.

Interesting Apple Facts:

In America, apples are grown in all 50 states, commercially in 36 states and we eat a lot of them. On average, Americans eat almost 20 lbs (65 apples worth) every year. In the UK, apples you find on the ground are called "windfalls".