Apples

We’ve all heard it … “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, that quaint saying is proving to be true. Apples are packed with antioxidants, flavonoids and dietary fiber. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Men’s Health magazine lists apples in its list of 40 Age-Erasing Superfoods, saying “An apple a day reduces swelling of all kinds, thanks to quercetin, a flavonoid… Quercetin reduces the risk of allergies, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prostate and lung cancers.”

You can find 6 varieties of apples at Burchell.

Apricots

Apricots are a good source of vitamin A, rich in fiber and good for your heart, skin and bones. They’re packed with Vitamin A, which is also known as retinol, and helps in the enhancement of vision, keeps the immune system in check, and protects your skin in the process. They’re full of calcium, which is needed for strong bones. Their high fiber content helps to reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol to help protect the heart. Plus the potassium content in the fruit balances the electrolyte levels in our system, keeping our heart muscles in order.

If you’d like to expand your acreage in apricots, Burchell offers a dozen varieties.

Cherries

Cherries are considered a superfood due to their super level of antioxidants as compared to other fruits. According to Bob Trott and his article Are Cherries the New Wonder Fruit?, the key is the fruit’s skin and pigmentation, where antioxidants called anthocyanins are found. The article quotes a study at Michigan State University that links cherries to heart health benefits and findings from the Moss Report that the antioxidant activity of tart black cherries is greater than that of vitamin E.

Cherries provide important nutrients, such as beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate. They contain melatonin, which has been found to help regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns, reduce the effects of jet lag, ward of memory loss and slow down the aging process.

Burchell Nursery has 20 varieties of cherries available.

Citrus

According to Eating Well magazine, one medium orange packs more than 100% of the recommended daily dose for vitamin C (and some research suggests organic citrus packs up to 17% more vitamin C than conventional). Citrus provides a rich source of flavonoids. The predominant flavonoid in these fruits—hesperidin—is credited with boosting “good” HDL cholesterol and lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

If you’re looking to harvest the demand for the health benefits of citrus, Burchell Nursery offers the Tango Seedless Mandarin and Clementine de Nules varieties as well as others.