THERE are more than 7,500 known varieties of apples, each with their own characteristic flavour, colour size and texture with uses including cooking, fresh eating and cider production.

Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon, prostate and lung cancers. They are also believed to help with reducing heart disease, assisting weight loss and lowering cholesterol.

Studies on mice have indicated that apple juice may assist in alleviating reduction in brain performance associated with dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging.

Also, scientists at the University of Hong Kong discovered that fruit flies who were fed an apple extract lived 10 per cent longer than other flies who were fed a normal diet. A medium apple is about 80 calories.

The world's largest apple peel was created by Kathy Wafler Madison on October 16, 1976, in Rochester, NY. It was 172ft 4ins long.

She was 16 years old at the time and grew up to be a sales manager for an apple tree nursery.