I just learned that the UK observes a holiday called ‘Apple Day’ on 21 October each year. It is a fun celebration of the apple, one of the most popular fruits in the world. This yearly celebration honors the variety of apples, their culinary adaptability, and their history. It’s that time of the year to savor apple flavors in a variety of products, including ciders, apple pies, and fresh apples. Additionally, Apple Day serves as a reminder of the value of biodiversity, sustainable farming methods, and apple cultivation.
Cultural nonprofit organizations called Common Ground established Apple Day in the UK in 1990 to honor and promote the variety and richness of apples. Since then, it has expanded to other nations, turning into a worldwide celebration of this beloved fruit. On this day, people are encouraged to support sustainable apple farming and recognize the cultural, ecological, and culinary significance of apples.
You may wonder why I am so happy if this day is observed in the UK and other nations. Well, it’s because of our posting to Jammu & Kashmir. In the Kashmir valley, I have traveled within the state by road, which is my preferred mode of transportation; I saw apple orchards on both sides of the roads. Every time we passed an apple orchard, I recall that we paused and marveled at the densely laden trees. The Kashmir Valley is currently harvesting apples. With millions of jobs, apple farming is the main economic engine in Kashmir.
I remember on my first visit, the apple trees were nearly bare; on my second visit, I saw the apple blossoms, then tiny apples, and finally, fully grown, ripe, crunchy apples were being harvested. Seeing the sheer quantity of apples being grown and harvested in Kashmir, I now want to urge the government to declare an ‘Apple Day’ in Kashmir.
There are apples all throughout the planet. According to studies, the original wild relatives of contemporary apples were located in Kyrgyzstan, southern Kazakhstan, and northwest China. From there, they were brought to Europe via the Silk Road and, through the Silk Route, they reached India, I am presuming.
For thousands of farmers in Kashmir, producing apples has been a vital source of income and a means of subsistence. 78% of India’s total annual apple output, which is around 25-26 lakh metric tonnes (MTs), is produced by the Kashmir region. In many significant districts of the valley, including Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Budgam, Ganderbal, and Kupwara, apple production is preferred over paddy farming.
American trel and Delicious are the two primary apple kinds cultivated in the valley. In contrast to varieties like Maharaji, Hazratbali, Chemora, etc., which are grown in relatively tiny quantities due to low demand, both are juicy, crisp, and long-lasting.
Ambri, a popular native apple from the Kashmir valley’s Shopian and former Pulwama districts, deserves special recognition. This apple is unique to Kashmir and does not originate from neighboring Central Asia. Despite being regarded as Kashmir’s best apple in terms of flavor, aroma, and longevity, it is now not very popular.
Why should we eat one apple per day, then? We are all aware of the health advantages of apples. The saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ which refers to the fruit’s purported health advantages, dates back to the 19th century, but the original phrase was ‘You will prevent the doctor from earning his bread if you eat an apple before bed.’ The expression changed to ‘an apple a day, no doctor to pay’ and ‘an apple a day sends the doctor away’ in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This fruit has several health benefits, and today is the perfect time to start eating it. However, I will always remember that at the orchards we visited, the owners gave me a bag full of the freshest, juiciest apples I had ever tasted. Their warmth and the delicious apples have touched my heart.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own)
Smita Singh is a freelance writer who has over 17 years of experience in the field of print media, publishing, and education. Having worked with newspapers like The Times of India (as a freelancer), National Mail, Dainik Bhaskar, and DB Post, she has also worked with Rupa& Co, a book publishing house, and edited over 30 books in all genres.
She has worked with magazines like Discover India and websites called HolidayIQ and Hikezee (now Go Road Trip). She has also written for Swagat (former in-flight magazine of Air India), Gatirang (magazine of Maruti Udyog), India Perspectives (magazine for Ministry of External Affairs), and Haute Wheels (magazine of Honda).
After turning freelance writer she wrote on art and architecture for India Art n Design. She also worked for Princeton Review as a full-time Admissions Editor and then IDP Education Private Limited as an Application Support Consultant. Smita has her own website called bookaholicanonymous.com which supports her love for books and reading!
You can reach her at: [email protected]