Sweet Tips And Tricks
The Stemilt Difference
Fueling the Future of Apples: From Fan Favorites to Future Stars, Flavor Comes First
You Often Ask…
What Kind Of Wax Is On Stemilt Apples?
Conventional apples have a thin layer of natural, food-grade wax, like carnauba or shellac, that’s FDA-approved and free of common allergens like milk, soy, casein, or gluten. To remove wax but keep the nutrients in the skin, wash apples with fruit spray and gently scrub with a cloth, or peel them.
Is There Wax On Stemilt Artisan Organics® Apples?
You might notice your organic apples feel oily/waxy, this is called rewaxing. Without an applied coating, the apple will wax itself as a natural defense process to retain moisture.
How Are Apples Available All Year Long?
Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage technology allows us to slow the ripening process for apples by adjusting temperature and humidity levels, so you can enjoy apples all year long!
Are Stemilt Apples GMO?
No, Stemilt apples are not genetically modified. We grow new cultivars of apples that were developed through cross-pollination breeding methods.
How Do I Know If An Apple Is Organic Or Conventional?
Take a look at the PLU, or price look-up sticker! If there is a 4-digit code, it means the apple was grown conventionally. If there is a 5-digit code starting with the number 9, it was grown organically. The more you know!
Choosing The Best Apple…
Check For Firm, Puncture-Free Skin
Gently press your finger on the apple. If it’s firm, that’s a good sign! Look for apples that are free from punctures, bruising, or decay. Some markings (like scuffs) come from nature and don’t necessarily mean it’s a bad apple.
Look For Lots of Color
Turn the apple around in your hand to check for full color. Full color means the apple soaked up lots of sun on the tree, which leads to strong sugar and flavor development!
Sniff For Aromas
Don’t be afraid to give your apple a good sniff! A pleasant aroma means its full of flavor.
Get To Know Your Apples
Getting to know the characteristics of each apple variety can point you in the right direction. You’ll become an expert of spotting tell-tale signs of what makes each apple great, like smelling for the sweetness of a Fuji, or spotting the bright green color of Granny Smith!
Look For the Stemilt Sticker
Okay you caught us plugging our own brand, but we truly believe in our apples’ ability to delight with great taste coming from beautiful Washington state, otherwise known as the apple capital of the world.
Did You Know…
Apples Are Brain Food
Apples are one of nature’s top superfoods! The apple’s skin contains the most nutrients, with a powerful antioxidant that protects brain cells and blocks free radicals.
They Give You Energy
Looking for a pre-workout snack? Look no further! Apples are a great, natural energy source, and can even aid in weight loss as they contain soluble fiber.
They’re Filling
Research has found that if you eat a whole apple before a meal, you’ll end up consuming fewer calories overall. You can’t beat that fruit hack!
They’re Great For Diabetics
Apples are low glycemic, meaning they cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar compared to other foods. They also contain pectin, which slows sugar absorption.
Apples Are Great For Your Gut Health
The fiber in apples helps maintain healthy digestion and can even help reduce inflammation in the body.
For more information about apple health, nutrition, and research, please visit our friends at Have A Plant, Fruits and Veggies for Better Health.
Apple Storage Tips:
Keep Them Cool
Store your apples in the coldest part of your refrigerator at 33 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or better yet, in the crisper drawer!
Use Lemon To Prevent Browning
After slicing apples, you can brush them with a lemon-water mixture to help prevent them from browning.
Store In A Perforated Bag
To prevent ethylene gas build up, which is naturally produced by apples as they ripen, keep them in a bag with holes to keep them from spoiling quicker.
Separate Your Apples From Other Foods
Keep apples away from potatoes as potatoes release a gas that can make apples spoil quicker, and at a distance from strong smelling foods like onion and garlic.
Freeze Them For Later
Freezing apples can be a great way to maintain quality for long periods of time. Slice the apples, brush them with lemon-water, and place them into a freezer-safe bag.
Apple Varieties
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Consistency
For decades, we’ve grown apples that deliver a fresh-picked eating experience with every bite. Apples are a staple around the world, and so is our commitment to quality and consistency to ensure every apple tastes as good as the day it came off the tree.
Our Mix
Our apple basket is brimming with varieties to match every taste, from sweet to balanced to super tart. Whether you love the timeless classics or crave something new, we keep our apple mix fresh with today’s favorites and the flavors of tomorrow.
The Apple Capital
We lucked out with having some of the best locales for growing apples in the world. Our orchards are located in central Washington state, spanning from the Tri-Cities to Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, and the Okanogan region (close to the U.S. and Canada border). The climate of Eastern Washington is perfect for apples, where there’s dry air and low humidity.
How We Grow Apples
To grow to their full flavor potential, apples need all four seasons to grow: winter, summer, spring, and fall. Winter resets the growing cycle, and trees go into dormancy. We take this time to prune in preparation for next year’s fruit load. By spring, the trees wake up and blossoms appear, helping us determine the upcoming crops’ fruit size and quality. In summer, we’re thinning a few branches here and there to help with fruit sizing and deterring pests with natural orchard-helpers like ladybugs. By fall, the apples are mature and ready for harvest! We hand-pick apples at their peak ripeness from late July through October.
Keeping It Crisp
Thanks to the incredible work of our quality control and research and development teams, we’re able to store apples for up to a year in controlled atmosphere (CA) rooms. While the apples are in a sleep state, we regularly check the pressures of apples to check which ones are ready to ship and which can continue their natural process of converting starches into that sweet, juicy flavor we all love (trust us, we taste them ourselves!)
Year-Round Supply
Summer, spring, winter, or fall, we’ve got an apple for it all! Rave® apples kick off our apple season as the first to harvest in August, while Pink Lady® brings the season to a close as the last to come off the tree. Most Stemilt apples can be found all year long to bring you 365 days of goodness!
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