We will now
talk about fruit - a very special fruit – the Apple, “King” of all fruits. Now,
why should the apple, in particular, be known as the “King” of all fruits? The
answer is : because this fruit has so many virtues. An apple is beautiful,
tasty and has a fine fragrance. It can be grown almost everywhere, and it keeps
well.
On the outside it is a colorful fruit. It comes in various
colors from green to red to gold. In taste an apple is tasty and juicy, and has
various tastes from sour to sweet. One can eat an apple raw, cooked, or baked,
and it can be used in various dishes.
Apples are very good for one’s health. An English saying is
: “An apple a day keeps doctor away.” The apple contains 80 to 85% of water.
Approximately 5% of protein or nitrogenous material. 10 to 15% of acids and
salts. A fresh apple is rich in vitamins and amongst the most valuable of the
anti-scorbutic fruits for reliving scurvy. All apples contain a varying amount
of acids, malic acid and gallic acid and a abundance of salts both potash and
soda, as well as salt of lime, magnesium and iron. Apple comes in all shades of
reds, greens, and yellows. Apples are fat, sodium and cholesterol free. Apple
floats because 25% of their volume is air. Apples have five seed pockets each
with a seed. To get the full value of an apple, it should be eaten unpeeled as
the valuable acids and salts of the Apple in and just below the skin.
Actually, an apple is good for one’s digestion, and also has
important vitamins and mineral. Apples also help to clean one’s teeth after a
meal. No other fruit has so many qualities. Therefore, it is not surprising
that the apple is regarded as the “King” of all fruits.
The original home of the apple is considered to be in the
countries of South West Asia, including the land of Israel. From there it is
spread to Europe and the rest of the world. Apples can grow anywhere, excluding
extremely hot and extremely cold climates.
Balochistan has the largest area under fruits in Pakistan as
nearly one million tons of fruits are annually produced from 0.23 million
hectares. In this way, Balochistan’s share in country’s fruit area and
production is 32.6% and 17.4%, repectively. The production of deciduous fruits
(particularly apple) in Balochistan has a special significance among other
fruit growing areas. This is because the environmental conditions are relative
far more suitable for the production of apple. Therefore, apple is the first
largest planted fruit in Balochistan and it is second most produced fruit after
dates in the province. Apple is grown in highlands of Balochistan and it covers
0.101 million hectares with a production of 0.224 million tones. The Tar-Kulu
(Red Delicious) and Shin-Kulu (Golden Delicious) are the famous varieties for
their very attractive color and taste throughout Pakistan as mentioned below:-
GOLDEN
DELICIOUS (APPLES)
Golden
delicious is available from October to December.
TAR
KULU(APPLE)
Tar Kulu is
available from September to December.
AMRI (APPLE)
Amri is
available from October to January
