Fruit woods can easily be used fresh if you're cooking very hot and fast, like Myron Mixon does on stick burners. With the low and slow method, I'd stick with wood that's been cured for a bit ...
I love apple, but yeah I'd dry it up a bit....
but you can always try it to see if it makes a difference.
use a cured piece one day and use a fresh piece the next.....
