Apples are as old as Eve, but more tempting than ever.

Dozens of different varieties from Granny Smith to Golden Delicious are headed toward local markets and stores for eating and cooking enjoyment as fall harvest time approaches. Georgia mountain apples will be ripe and ready to go in early October, according to a spokesman at Harp's Farm.

There are plenty of staple varieties like the Red Delicious and Rome Beauty available at food stores now, and they can be put to use in ways you never thought of. When the English colonists arrived on America's shores, they brought apple seeds with them, eventually harvesting the fruit for food, drink and even medicinal purposes. Their apple tips are as fruitful today as they were then.

* An apple in a sack of potatoes will prevent them from sprouting.

* An apple placed in a container with brown sugar will help keep it moist.

* An apple in the cookie jar will keep cookies moist.

* Add lemon juice to an apple recipe if the apples lack tartness.

* No toothbrush? Eating a raw apple after a meal can rid your mouth of more than 95 percent of the bacteria linked to tooth decay.

An abundance of tales and legends surround the apple, along with good advice. Everyone has heard the claim that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” King Solomon declared the apple to be a healing fruit and the wisdom persists today. They've been around for centuries, and carbonized remains of apples have been discovered in prehistoric lakes in the Iron Age and the Stone Age. Apples have flourished around the world, and today, the annual crop in the United States exceeds 145 million bushels.

What are the qualities of some of the most familiar apples? Granny Smith apples are tart and crisp. They are excellent for salads and for eating right off the tree. Their “tang” is tweaked when baked and sauteed.

Red Delicious are mild, sweet and juicy. They rank as the number one snacking apple. The Red Delicious are good fresh, in salads or on mixed fruit trays.

One of the best cooking apples around is the Rome Beauty. Their best flavor is aroused with a little sugar or honey. Romes maintain their shape and rich flavor when cooked, making them a good choice for baked apples.

Golden Delicious apples have a rich, mellow flavor and a tender skin. They are considered the best “all purpose” apple because their shape and taste do not suffer during baking or cooking. Goldens also are considered the best apple for making cider

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