This farmworker sorts through freshly picked apples at an orchard near Berryville, Virginia. The farming of fruit crops differs in some ways from other agricultural crops. While most other crops grow out of seeds, fruit trees are propagated by grafting buds onto seedling rootstalks. In addition, fruit growers have traditionally harvested apples and other fruits by hand. With the larger orchards resulting from new mechanical sprayers, however, more and more fruit growers are using the same types of harvesting machinery that other crops require.

Art Stein/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Apple Harvesting," Microsoft® Encarta® 96 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Apples

The apple tree is widely cultivated throughout temperate regions of the world for its juicy, edible fruit. The many varieties of apples have been popular for centuries and growers have selectively bred certain superior wild varieties for domestication and mass production.

Dorling Kindersley

Apples," Microsoft® Encarta® 96 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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