Elztal is an eldorado for apples, grapes, strawberries and cherries. Apples are relatively indifferent to soil conditions and grow everywhere in Elztal. Some require protection from the wind and should not be planted in low areas that are prone to late spring frosts. A common problem is a late frost that destroys the delicate outer structures of the flower. It is best to plant apples on a slope, but not on a south facing slope as this will encourage early flowering and increase vulnerability to frost. Frost damage can be evaluated 1 day afterwards; if the pistil has turned black, the flower is ruined and will not produce apples.

     Mature trees typically bear 100-200 kg of apples p.a. and are harvested in autumn.

     Apples can be canned, juiced, and optionally fermented to produce Most (apple cider) , vinegar, and pectin. Distilled apple cider produces the spirit Apfelschnapps.

     Apples are an important ingredient in many winter desserts, for example apple cake. They are often eaten baked or stewed, and they can also be dried and eaten or re-consitituted (soaked in water, alcohol or some other liquid) for later use. Pureed apples are locally refered to as Apfelkompott "apple sauce". Apples are also made into apple jelly e.g., so-called Quittengelee. They are also used cooked with meat dishes.

     Apples have long been considered healthy, and have been proven to reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. They can also help with heart disease, weight loss and controlling cholesterol. A group of chemicals in apples might even protect the brain from the type of damage that triggers Alzheimer's and Parkinsonism.

     Apples appear in many religious traditions. In some cultures, the apple is a symbol of sexuality. According to a Greek saga, Paris had to give an apple to the most beautiful goddess, thus indirectly causing the Trojan War. In the Bible, apple was the forbidden fruit given by Eve ta Adam to share with her causing the fall from Eden.