Mar 2, 2016

USApple hosts Apple Madness tournament

What are your favorite apples? Tried-and-true champion varieties enjoyed by all, or up-and-coming underdog apples known only by a few? Throughout March (National Nutrition Month), U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is encouraging people to pick their all-time favorite apple by hosting the first-ever “Apple Madness” tournament – a five-week, five-round online competition spotlighting 32 apple varieties and fresh health facts.

Apple Madness features USApple and apple industry members encouraging people to visit USApple.org/AppleMadness to take part in a bracket-style tournament by voting for their favorite varieties. Among the 32 featured in Apple Madness: Veteran varieties such as Empire, Fuji, Red Delicious, and Granny “Slam Dunk” Smith; rising stars such as “Hoops” Honeycrisp and Pink Lady; and rookies to watch like SweeTango, “Jumpball” Jazz and SnapDragon.

The first-week round — The “Fresh 32”— (Tuesday, March 1 – Sunday, March 6) features all 32 apples seeded in 16 match-ups. People can view and vote on each match-up while learning about healthy apple research. Top apples from week one advance to the “Vitamin-C Sixteen” round, which tips off Monday, March 7. The “Edible Eight” round starts Monday, March 14, with the “Fiber Four” round beginning Monday, March 21. Finally, the “National Chomp-ionship” round to determine the ultimate winner apple variety will be held Monday, March 28 – Thursday, March 31.

Throughout the tournament, participants can enter to win a host of apple-related prizes from Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh, Knouse Foods, Michigan Apples, New York Apple Association, Pennsylvania Apples, Red Jacket Orchards, Sage Fruit, Tree Top, and Washington Apple Commission.