How the apple became such a ubiquitous, iconic fruit across the globe

Nearly every children's book about the alphabet starts with “A is for apple”. References to apples exist throughout many aspects of Western culture. They have been used as a symbol for everything from beauty, to knowledge, to original sin. Apples are used in phrases such as “The Big Apple,” “the apple of my eye,” and "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apples dipped in honey are traditionally eaten to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Apples are the archetype of a fruit. …