You can’t take the seed of a tasty apple, plant it and expect the tree to have similarly tasting apples. If you want to duplicate a tree, you need to take a twig and graft it on top of an existing tree.

Source: MinuteEarth on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIajCqcvTg8)

[Edit: Previously, before I remembered that this video exists, I couldn’t remember the correct word for “grafting”. Hence Sidyctism II.’s response.

In Finland there is this law called jokamiehenoikeudet. Roughly translates into "everymans rights"

Everymans rights allow everyone to enjoy nature in regardless of who owns the land as long as it is done responsibly and without causing harm or disturbance. These rights apply to all people, including visitors.

You are allowed to: Walk, ski, and cycle freely in forests, fields, and other natural areas (as long as you do not damage crops or do it on somebodys yard). Camp temporarily on uncultivated land. Pick wild berries, mushrooms, and flowers (aslong as they are not protected.) Swim, row, and use waterways freely.

But you cant: Cause damage to nature, animals, or property. Disturb residents or invade privacy. Light open fires without the landowner’s permission. Drive motor vehicles off-road without permission. Harm protected species or take branches, bark, or timber from living trees.

So atleast in Finland if the fruit tree is not on anybodys yard or planted for a business use, you can eat the fruit and its not a crime.

The reason we don't do it today is because fruits would fall on the ground and people would complain it gets dirty. As stupid as that.

In my mom's hometown there are fruit trees literally everywhere. Everyone and their dog has them. The public areas have them. The forests have them. There are fruit all over the ground. Nobody 'steals' or gathers to sell. They make alcohol and share it with anyone that comes within line of sight like pokemon trainers forcing you to battle. Also all of the kids are sick of eating the fruit but if they feel like eating any they don't even have to pick it themselves because all the parents and grandparents will pick wash and even cut up the fruit and serve it on a platter with even the slightest hint of interest. I ate a lot of plums and pears and drank a fuckload of brandy.

johnny appleseed would also show up right after native americans were run off from their native orchards and declare those sapling riparian orchards his.

not a coincidence as his business was selling sour apple saplings to new immigrants.

johnny appleseed was a typical christian businessman using the chaos of genocide as a place to put his wallet and the marketing of a pot on his head to get notice.

and the US destroyed the last of the orchards that he claimed as his creation during Prohibition.

because usa.

I have a bunch of cherry tomatoes plants on the outside fence of my garden. And 6 kiwi plants. They produce so much fruit and i deliberately placed them on the roadside on a road where not a lot of people even walk by. You know, so people can take some fruits if they want. One day my neighbour came over and he was really concerned that people would steal my fruit. I explained to him that it's not really stealing when i even provide little containers to take some on the road or home. The conversation was way longer than i was comfortable with, and i don't think he ever understood the concept.

I'd be worried about someone taking all the fruit from all the trees then selling it. 

Apple seeds have like a one in 10k chance of producing a sweet apple that is nearly as good as what else is on the market, and like one in 100k for it to be better. Every other one comes out to a nearly inedible crab apple.

Always seemed like a cool hobby to me if I somehow became rich. It's like a gamble that is just as much your time, as it is your money.

Your Johnny Appleseed comment reminded me of my favorite movie musical, Paint Your Wagon (1969) with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. And, yes, they both sing!

Elizabeth: Did you know that the Fenty's had an apple farm back in Pennsylvania?

Ben Rumson: Apple jack, huh?

Mr. Fenty: No, sir, we did not make apple jack.

Ben Rumson: Then, what did you grow the apples for?

Mr. Fenty: Mr. Rumson, do you think that everything that comes out of the earth should be used to make liquor?

Ben Rumson: Whenever possible, yes.

This is actually a great representation of the difference in culture I've seen between the US and visiting a couple places in Europe and particularly Sweden.

I don't know if actual public fruit tree orchards are a thing anywhere, but the general feel of "holy crap they can have nice things in shared spaces here" was everywhere.

I wonder if that person would consider foraging for mushrooms and berries in the forest to be stealing as well.

Only practical issue, is that unpicked fruit falls and makes a mess. but I don't think it is a big issue, as we already tend to deal with leaf foliage falling in the fall, and no one complains about that. there is also the concept of botanical sexism which has been fucking everyone with allergies for decades. So I will 100% be in favour of using fruiting trees in urban areas.

Look at Valencia, they put orange trees in the streets. and it is a beloved Valencian institution.

iirc Johnny Appleseed spread seeds so people could make alcoholic cider

Fun historical fact: Those apples were not for eating, they were for making hard cider.

Well, how do you like them apples?