• It takes 2 pounds of apples to make one 9-inch pie
• Apples are fat, sodium & cholesterol free
• A medium size apple is about 80 calories
• Apples are a great source of the fiber pectin

• One apple has 5 grams of fiber
• Apple trees take 4-5 years to produce their first fruit

• Most apples are still hand-picked in the fall

• Apple varieties range in size from a little larger than a cherry to as large as a grapefruit

• Americans eat 19.6 pounds or about 65 fresh apples every year

• 25% of an apple's volume is air (this is why they float)

• The largest apple picked weighed 3 pounds

• One of George Washington's hobbies was pruning his apple trees

• A peck of apples weight is 10.5 pounds

• A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds and will yield 20-24 quarts of applesauce

• Native to the Mediterranean, the artichoke is the edible flower bud of a thistle-like plant in the sunflower family
• One plant can produce up to 30 chokes of different sizes
• Although fresh artichokes are available year-round in most markets, prime season is in spring, from March to May in the northern hemisphere
• Forego any good wine while eating artichokes. They cause chemical changes which affect the taste buds, enhancing sweet flavors
• The Spanish introduced the Artichoke to California during the 19th century

• Today, California provides nearly 100% of the Artichokes of the United States crops
• The artichoke is the Official Vegetable of Monterey County
• A recent study found that Artichokes are one of the best sources of antioxidants and can help prevent cell damage, which can lead to cancer. Artichokes also aid in digestion and may even lower cholesterol
• When Selecting an Artichoke, look for ones with a bit of a glossy sheen. The leaves of the bud should be tight, not “blooming.”  If the artichoke makes a squeaking noise when you squish it slightly, then it is fresh

• If you are searching for an artichoke with a large heart, look down the stem toward the base.  There is a little bit of an indentation that can bee seen in the leaves.  This gives an idea of how big its heart is
• Artichokes are also used to make an herbal tea, which is quite popular in Vietnam

• Store fresh artichokes unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. It's best to use fresh artichokes on the day of purchase. To freeze whole cooked artichokes for later use, drain completely, wrap tightly in foil and pack in plastic freezer bags or other airtight container for 6 to 8 months

• Asparagus is a member of the Lily family
• Asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils
• Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in a 24-hour period
• The larger the diameter, the better the quality
• Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food which in high in Folic Acid and is a good source of potassium, vitamins A and C, vitamin B6, fiber and thiamin
• Asparagus has no fat, contains no cholesterol and is low in sodium
• Ancient Egyptians made offerings of asparagus to their gods
• Asparagus is a relative of onions, leeks and garlic
• Asparagus was first cultivated about 2500 years ago in Greece

• Asparagus, a Greek word, means "stalk" or "shoot"

• Asparagus is loaded with medicinal properties and was initially recognized for its medicinal uses. Originally used by ancient Greeks and Romans to relieve toothaches and prevent bee stings

CHEESE

CHERRIES

• The most famous sweet cherry variety is the Bing cherry. However, there are more than 1,000 varieties of sweet cherries. Bing cherries are a dark red/burgundy color. There also are light sweet cherry varieties, such as Rainier and Queen Anne
• There are about 7,000 cherries on an average tart cherry tree (the number varies depending on the age of the tree, weather and growing conditions), and it takes about 25 cherries to make a cherry pie, so each tree potentially could produce enough cherries for 280 pies
• Today, the U. S. cherry industry produces more than 650 million pounds of tart and sweet cherries each year
• Each July since 1974, hundreds of people from across the country and around the world gather for the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship. The contest marks the beginning of the tart cherry harvest for southwest Michigan

• Eggplants belong to the nightshade family which include tomatoes, sweet peppers and potatoes
• Eggplant was believed to be first cultivated in India 4000 years ago
• It is available year-round, with the peak season during the months of August and September
• By the 16th century, Eggplants were widely known in Europe as "Mad Apples" and were believed to induce insanity if consumed
• The 16th century Spaniards had great respect for the Eggplant and believed its fruit to be a powerful aphrodisiac; hence they referred to them as "Berengenas" or the "Apple of Love"
• It was primarily grown in the United States as an ornamental plant until about 50 years ago
• Eggplants are rich sources of phenolic compounds that function as antioxidants and are a good source of dietary fiber
• Eggplant is low in calories and high in potassium. A 3 ounce serving contains 28 calories
• Eggplant is so nourishing that it’s good as an ingredient in many of your everyday dishes. As you can see, there’s not a trace of tomato or cheese! We call for 3 colors of bell pepper, but you can use all one color if you prefer

• Celts believed that the ghosts of the dead who returned to earth on the night of Oct. 31 caused trouble and damaged crops; they also believed that their gods played tricks on them

• Trick-or-treating has been illegal for anyone over the age of 14 in Sandusky, Ohio since 1995

• The term Halloween is the shorten form of All-Hallow-Even (or as the Irish say, All Hallows’ Eve), which is the evening before All Hallows’ Day, also known as All Saints Day

• The carving of pumpkins stems from the Irish tradition of making lanterns out of turnips, potatoes or even rutabagas by carving faces into them and illuminating them with candles of coals. These were then placed on the doorstep to ward of evil spirits

• The term Jack-O-Lanterns come from the old Irish Tale of Stingy Jack who, because of his stingy ways, was denied entrance to Heaven and turned away from the devil, only to be forced to roam the earth at night.  As consolation, the Devil threw Jack a lighted coal, which Jack placed inside a turnip he was eating. It is said that Jack continues to use the coal to light his path as he searches for a final resting place
• Orange and black became Halloween colors because of orange is associated with harvests and black is associated with death

• 90% of parents admit to sneaking treats out of their children’s trick-or-treat bags!

• Americans spend $2.5 billion on Halloween each year

• The world's fastest time to carve a face into a pumpkin is 54.72 seconds, by Stephen Clarke (USA), on October 23, 2001

• More than 93 percent of children go trick-or-treating each year. 

Trick-or-treating is thought to have its origins in a European custom called souling where people would beg for "soul cakes"

• Celts believed that bad spirits would take the form of cats and other animals on the night of October 31
• The origin of Halloween has certain variations, but the most common is this: The ancient Celts believed that October 31 was the last day of the light half of the year and thus the end of summer.  This date was referred to as Samhain, meaning “End of summer” in modern Gaelic. November 1 was the first day of winter and the Celts associated winter with death, which was probably due to the fact that this time of year livestock was slaughtered to provide meat for the coming winter.  The Celts viewed October 31 to be the time where the line of the living and the dead to be blurred.  This 48-hour period between October 31 and November 1 was celebrated with the festival The Vigil of Samhain

PORK

PUMPKINS

• Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made them into mats
• 80% of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October
• Pumpkins are 90 percent water
• The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over 5 feet in diameter & weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs & took 6 hours to bake

• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles & curing snake bites
• In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling
• Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called Cucurbits
• Pumpkins originated in Central America
• Pumpkins contain Potassium and Vitamin A
• Pumpkins are a fruit

• The largest "unofficial" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,458 pounds, but was not awarded due to damage
• The largest "official" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,340 pounds

• Pumpkins are used for feed
• Pumpkin flowers are edible
• Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash"
• Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine
• And did you know that the Irish brought this tradition of pumpkin carving to America? The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they found pumpkins a plenty and they were much easier to carve for their ancient holiday

• After the first Thanksgiving, various dates were used, all of which were in the winter. Finally, President Roosevelt signed a bill on November 26, 1941, establishing the fourth Thursday of November as the National Thanksgiving public Holiday 

• There was no milk, cheese, bread, butter or pumpkin pie at the original Thanksgiving Day feast

• Contrary to popular belief, there is no real evidence that turkey was served at the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving. It is assumed, however, because wild turkeys were mentioned in a book written by the Pilgrims' Governor Bradford. Also, in another letter sent to England, a pilgrim describes how the governor sent "four men out fowling," returning with turkeys, duck and geese