Glucosylceramides were surveyed in crop tissues and by-products from their processing. Apple pulp contained the highest amount (0.94 mg g(-1)) of glucosylceramide and relatively less sterylglucoside, which is the major contaminant of partially purified glucosylceramide. Glucosylceramide from apple pulp was principally composed of 2-hydroxypalmitic acid as the fatty acid, 4-hydroxy-cis-8-sphingenine as the sphingoid base, and glucose as the hexose, similar to those of commercial preparations isolated from rice bran or wheat germ. Apple pulp may be an alternative source for the commercial production of glucosylceramides. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.