5 Amazing and Unusual Apple Products

Farmer's markets are full of vendors selling apples by the peck and roadside stands are a dime a dozen. The question is, how will you differentiate yourself from them? After all, if you don't add a unique twist to your apple product offerings, your potential customers are just comparing apples to apples.

Here is a list of a few unique apple products that you could add to your fall value-added product lineup. As an added bonus, blemished or cosmetically imperfect apples can be used to make many of these items.

1. Varietal Apple Cider-- Usually, apple cider is made of a mix of apple varieties. However, many "foodies" (gourmet and specialty food-loving individuals) have come to love learning about the characteristics of all kinds of different herbs, fruits and vegetables. Their desire to feel connected to their food supply and to elevate "artisanal" foods (apple cider included) to gourmet status can be met by making apple cider out of one variety of apple and labeling it as such. Just as Merlot wine is made from one kind of grape, your varietal cider will be made from your Black Twigs, Macintoshes or whatever other variety of apple you grow, the more exotic, the better! Bottling this product in a fancy glass bottle is a plus as well.
   
   
2.  Apple Cider Syrup--this product is made by reducing (cooking down) apple cider. It is good to eat with both sweet foods, like pancakes, and savory ones, like pork. It is usually sold in a glass jar, similar to maple syrup. If you are also selling apple cider vinegars or other products that are bottled in glass bottles, consider selecting a bottle that will work well for as many different products as possible.
   
   
3.  Apple Wreaths--Combine dried apple slices with grapevines, cinnamon sticks, decorative accents and other items in order to make a beautiful wreath or garland. Many of the wreaths and garlands on the market tend to be apple pie scented, but these decorative items can be sold unscented or can be scented with cinnamon, anise or any number of other essential oils.
   
   
4.  Apple Walnut Conserve (and other very fancy apple jellies)--Apples can be combined with almost any fruit or nut and made into some very interest provoking and delicious jams, jellies and preserves. Remember to have plenty of plain apple jelly on hand if you're selling unusual preserves: although an apple macadamia rosemary preserve may catch your customers' eye and get them thinking of toast and jam, they may come to the decision that they want a simpler product that's more in line with what they are used to.
   
   
5.  Apple soaps and shampoos--Frederic Fekkai, the hair care mogul, sells apple cider shampoo for $2.50 an ounce, and there's no reason that you can't jump on the apple cosmetics band wagon as well. Apple-scented items never go out of style, so if have the urge to build a cosmetics empire, apple soaps, shampoos, conditioners and essential oils are a good place to start.

All of the products on this list lend themselves to mail order as well as in-store purchases. Just keep in mind that food products shipped out-of-state are subject to both federal and local food safety guidelines.

These apple products are just a few examples of the many different ones that you could create and sell. Decide which ones appeal to you, develop your own favorite recipes, attractive packaging and colorful labeling, and you'll be on your way to gathering an orchard full of value-added apple profits.