Someone recently wrote about fermenting apple cores and, just yesterday,
I chanced upon a passage in one of my references that may explain the
phenomena. The text suggested that apple core anomalies, which also
includes 'bitter pit' is likely due to a calcium deficiency and the genetics
of the tree determines which type of abnormality occurs. I should add that
calcium deficiencies are often due to a low pH; as pH drops, calcium gets
bound up and becomes unavailable for plant uptake.
Jim Fruth
Pequot Lakes, MN
[NAFEX] Apple Core Anomalies,
Jim Fruth, 11/14/2004