The crab apple tree, the wild form of our cultivated apple, is native to parts of Europe and northwestern Asia. The cultivation is done by grafting. The wild form is not very appealing as far as appearance and taste are concerned. There are finds in Palestine that can be dated back to the 9th century BC. Whether the cultivated form of the apple tree was widespread in biblical times is not certain.
In art, the apple is often depicted as the fruit that Eve is said to have handed to Adam in Paradise. In the creation narrative of the Bible, however, it is not said that the fruit was an apple - here it only says: "and she took of the fruit."
Today, we know well over 5700 different varieties of apples. These are an important source of vitamins, especially for the winter season.