What other warm places grow apples?

The oldest evidence of apple cultivation has been found in Jericho in Israel where apple cores were found in abundance (and yes, the apple cores had worms- the codling moth was around even back then).  Apples are commercially grown in Israel, Egypt, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.  Indonesia itself has well over two million apple trees.  To see a terrific video of apples being grown next to the rice paddies in Malaysia, click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0yW7U_ddQ

In 1998 studies were performed in Nigeria that proved apples could also be productive in the lowland tropics.  These results were duplicated in the Philippines with successful orchards around Manila and other lowland regions.  Rainfall and foliar disease appears to be the limiting factor, not temperatures. 

The varieties may also surprise you.  Nicaragua grows Wealthy, one of the most cold-hardy apples which also does well in the tropics.  In Indonesia Rome Beauty is popular because it becomes especially sweet and flavorful when grown in a tropical climate.

The main thing that keeps more apples from being commercially grown in these countries are cheap import apples from China.  China's apple production dwarfs the rest of the world and small growers cannot compete, so even in the tiny market stalls of highland Thailand the apples there are probably from China instead of local growers.  Sounds a lot like Washington State apples here, doesn't it?  But rest assured that warm-climate apple growing is a proven science and you have excellent chances of success.  We'll show you how to take advantage of the benefits of growing apples in the city.

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