Java Edition:Apple

Apples have been in Minecraft since version Indev 0.31 20091231-2255 but were not normally obtainable until Beta 1.8 Pre-release, when they were added as Stronghold storeroom loot. From 1.1 to 25w42a (present) they were made obtainable as a rare drop from oak leaves, making them much easier to obtain.

Obtaining

Indev Item Chests

From Indev 0.31 20100124-2310 to Indev 0.31 20100128 new worlds would generate with the Indev House, and inside the house were debug chests. Between Indev 20100124 and Indev 20100125 the chests held items in stacks of 99, while in Indev 20100128 the chests held items in stacks of 100. Apples were one of the such items that generated inside the debug chests.

Players Named Notch

From Infdev 20100227 to 12w17a (1.3.1 Snapshot), players named "Notch" would drop an Apple in addition to their inventory. They were not renewable until respawning was added in Infdev 20100327, which made them completely renewable and obtainable for worlds with a player named "Notch". Out of this version range, Infdev 20100327 is also the first version where the world can actually be saved. It is possible to use a launcher such as BetaCraft or MultiMC to change your name to "Notch" to experience this effect.

Beta 1.6 Test Build 3 Debug Chests

In Beta 1.6 Test Build 3 new worlds would generate with 11 debug chests. Within the debug chests were a wide variety of items most of which were available in there full stacks some were not. Apples were one of the such items that generated inside the debug chests, Apples generated in the 7th chest from the left in the 27th slot in a stack of 1.

7th chest from the left.

Recontinued

For worlds without the "Notch" player that cannot use the player drop method, apples are recontinued in Beta 1.8 Pre-release-1 when apples were added as potential loot in the storeroom chest of a stronghold. This is only possible in older worlds if a stronghold that generates with the right loot remains in unloaded chunks. Apples have remained intentionally obtainable up to 25w42a (present). Apples became renewable in 11w48a (1.1 Snapshot) when they first can drop from oak leaves. Apples have since been added to many more structure loot, made possible through trading, and added as a drop from dark oak leaves.