Apples are so much more than just an afternoon snack. We'll tell you about some great new ways to enjoy them.

There are few things more highly anticipated than the first ripe strawberry of spring or a crisp fall apple, just days off the tree. In our Market Fresh series, we look at the produce in season this month and offer quick and easy suggestions for how to enjoy it.

We tend to take apples for granted. Available year-round, we mistake that mid-summer nosh on a big Red Delicious for the story of all apples. Like any other fruit or vegetable, apples are seasonal. Each variety can taste dramatically different, and if you eat them in the fall when they're at their freshest, you'll have a whole new appreciation for their flavor.

Do it for your health.
The old adage about keeping the doctor away isn't just folklore: Apples are great for you, especially if you eat the peel too.

One average-sized apple has about four grams of fiber in it, as much as a serving of many whole-grain cereals. They also contain pectin, which may help to lower cholesterol and make you feel full longer. Medium-sized apples have about 80 calories each.

Selecting and Storing
Although beloved by grocers for their ability to keep for months in cold storage, nothing beats an apple fresh from the tree. Luckily, the apple season is lengthy, beginning in late summer and tapering off in early winter.

You'll want to decide how you're going to use your apple before buying it. Certain varieties are great eaten raw and others hold up well to cooking. Though you may prefer their taste at room temperature, apples will keep for a longer period of time in the refrigerator. If you can, store apples separately as they emit ethylene, a gas which can hasten the ripening of other fruit around them. Choose firm apples with smooth skin.

What to Do with Apples.
You've tasted Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples. Why not expand your apple repertoire? Seek out deeply flavored Gravensteins, tart and juicy Macouns or Sierra Beauties, the perfect apple to use in tarts. You can use apples:

To add sweetness.
Top French toast with sautéed apple slices and cinnamon.

For a mid-day snack.
Cut the fruit into wedges, then dunk into peanut butter or a low-cal dip.

In a sandwich.
To liven up a ho-hum turkey club, layer in a few slices of Granny Smith apples.

To replace fat in baked goods.
Reduce the fat in your baked goods by substituting applesauce for an equal amount of vegetable oil.

In a spicy salsa.
Top fish or chicken with this delicious, healthy apple salsa. Dice an apple into 1/4-inch pieces. In a medium bowl, toss apple with chopped orange segments, a finely minced jalapeno, chopped onion, a little lime juice, apple cider vinegar, vegetable oil and fresh cilantro.

To add crunch.
Fold apple chunks into a pre-made chicken salad for some sweetness.

For more recipe suggestions, check out the links below:

Applesauce-Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Sautéed Apple with Butterscotch-Custard Sauce

Apple Pie