National Apple Day

Every year on October 21, people celebrate National Apple Day, a day devoted to honoring apples in all their variety and richness.

History of National Apple Day

National Apple Day traces back to the United Kingdom, where in 1990 the charity Common Ground established the first Apple Day on October 21 as a way to celebrate apples, orchards, and the diversity of apple varieties. Their aim was not just to enjoy apples, but also to raise awareness of the cultural, ecological, and genetic richness that traditional orchards embody—and how easily that can be lost.

Over time, the idea spread beyond the UK. While it may not be an official national holiday everywhere, many communities, farming groups, food enthusiasts, and orchardists now recognize October 21 as a day to celebrate apples, share recipes, host tastings, and deepen local ties to the land.

Why is National Apple Day important?

National Apple Day is important because it offers a lens through which to see how food, culture, and biodiversity interconnect. The apple is more than a snack—it’s a story of migration, breeding, landscape transformation, and human stewardship. By reflecting on apple diversity, we also reckon with what we lose when commercial varieties dominate and local orchards vanish.

This day encourages people to reconnect with seasonal food, local producers, and their own food heritage. It sparks conversation about sustainable agriculture, heirloom fruit varieties, pollinators, land stewardship, and community identity. In celebrating apples, we celebrate continuity, change, and the deep roots of how food shapes life.

• It reminds us of the many apple varieties beyond the supermarket staples
• It highlights the role of orchards in local landscapes and ecology
• It encourages support for local farmers and orchard conservation
• It fosters cultural connections through shared recipes and traditions
• It invites reflection on how food diversity contributes to resilience

How to Observe National Apple Day

To observe National Apple Day, you can begin simply: taste apples. Try a variety you’ve never had before—crisp, tart, sweet, heirloom—and compare textures and flavors. Host a tasting gathering with friends or family, and bring small slices of different apple types for comparison.

You might visit a local orchard or farmers’ market and talk with growers about how apples are cultivated, preserved, or bred. If possible, attend or host a workshop on grafting, apple‑tree pruning, or orchard history. On the culinary side, try baking apple pies, making apple sauce, juicing, or crafting apple desserts with seasonal flair.

• Taste several different apple varieties and compare
• Visit or support a local orchard or grower
• Bake or cook something with apples—pie, sauce, crisps
• Host an apple tasting or recipe exchange
• Learn or share knowledge about orchard care or apple varieties

National Apple Day Dates Table