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All the United States New York State New York City Ithaca The Cornell Apple Vending Machine
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

The Cornell Apple Vending Machine

For a buck, students can snag freshly picked apples grown in the university orchards.

Ithaca, New York

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Diana Hubbell
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Horticulture students showing off their work.   Photo by Craig Craimer, courtesy of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Apples for $1.   Photo by Magdalen Lindeberg, courtesy of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Students stocking the vending machine.   Photo by Craig Craimer, courtesy of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Students loading up the vending machine.   Photo by Craig Craimer, courtesy of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Apples ready to go.   Photo by Craig Craimer, courtesy of Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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Each year, at Cornell University, fall heralds the return of a most unusual vending machine outside of Mann Library near the Department of Horticulture. In lieu of the usual assortment of snacks, the popular fixture features nine apple varieties, all grown at Cornell Orchards’ two locations. 

For the modest price of a dollar, students can snag a crisp, juicy Gala, Shizuka, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, or Ginger Gold. Which apples are on display, though, varies month to month. In late August, the vending machine often showcases luscious Sansa or SweeTango apples, while November ushers in varieties like Goldrush. Graduate students in horticulture are responsible both for picking the fruit and keeping the machine fully stocked. All of the proceeds support the Society for Horticulture (SoHo).

The vending machine, which has been a point of pride at the school for more than three decades, is much more than novelty. Cornell Orchards have been the breeding grounds for significant new apple varieties over the years, including Empire, Macoun, Rubyfrost, Snapdragon, and Firecracker, all of which make appearances in the vending machine each autumn. On occasion, unnamed experimental varieties have made a cameo in the machine. Creating and marketing tastier apple varieties is big business these days—a staggering $10.5 million went into the development and promotion of Cosmic Crisp, a Washington State rival to Honeycrisp.

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Food Horticulture Vending Machines Fruit Apples

Know Before You Go

Since you won't find any imported apples here, the vending machine is only available during the fall season. 

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Added By

Diana Hubbell

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zydeko, MsMargo

  • zydeko
  • MsMargo

Published

January 14, 2022

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  • https://blogs.cornell.edu/hort/2015/08/31/the-apple-machine-is-back-2/
  • https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2007/09/snack-happy-new-apple-vending-machine-installed-plant-sciences
The Cornell Apple Vending Machine
237 Mann Dr
Ithaca, New York, 14850
United States
42.448795, -76.476316
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