Southwest Michigan apple maturity report – Oct. 13, 2021
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EmailThis is the seventh and final weekly apple maturity report for the southwest Michigan region.
This apple maturity report for the southwest Michigan region is sent out every week (usually on Wednesdays) following the Michigan State University Extension fruit team apple maturity calls on Wednesday morning.
Highlights for this week
Nearly all Golden Delicious and about two-thirds of the Fujis have been harvested in Berrien County. Approximately 50% of the Rome and Braeburn fruit have been harvested. Trap catches of brown marmorated stink bugs remain relatively high in some orchards. Damage by stink bug can be confused with other problems such as bitter pit and apple maggot.
We would like to thank the following growers/orchards who allowed us to sample their orchards for these maturity studies: Steve Weckworth, Marc and Randy Willmeng, Wendzel, Kurt and Kyle Weber, Mark Epple, Mike Piedt, Greg Prillwitz, Dean Froelich, Bryan Bixby, and Ed Czuba.
Detailed information by variety
Mac, Gala, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, IdaRed and Fuji
No more reports for these varieties, now at or beyond full maturity.
Rome
This variety was harvested for the third week and is predicted to be ready approximately Oct. 10 in central Berrien County. Fruit firmness is still excellent at an average of 19.3 with starch conversion testing an average of 4.0 and considered internally mature. According to these tests, Rome harvest can still be delayed, if needed, because fruit is very firm. Some blocks have been harvested for processing.
Rome – Sampled Oct. 11, 2021
|
Site |
Firmness (lbs.) |
Red color range (%) |
Starch |
Soluble solids (°Brix) |
|
1 |
19.1 |
85-98 |
4.0 |
11.9 |
|
2 |
19.0 |
85-98 |
4.0 |
11.8 |
|
3 |
20.0 |
80-98 |
4.0 |
11.9 |
|
4 |
19.0 |
70-100 |
4.0 |
11.4 |
|
Average |
19.3 |
|
4.0 |
11.8 |
|
Max |
20.0 |
|
4.0 |
11.9 |
|
Min |
19.0 |
|
4.0 |
11.4 |
|
Recommended |
18-15 |
|
3.5 |
|
|
Rome maturity sampling for the harvest season |
|||
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 27 |
21.0 (19.2-21.0) |
3.5 (3.0-4.0) |
11.4 |
|
Oct. 4 |
20.5 (20.0-21.0) |
3.5 (3.0-4.0) |
11.5 |
|
Oct. 11 |
19.3 (19.0-20.0) |
4.0 (4.0-4.0) |
11.8 |
Braeburn
This variety was harvested for the third week. Fruit firmness is excellent at an average of 18.8 pounds, with starch conversion testing an average of 4.4, and considered internally mature. Braeburn was predicted to be ready approximately Oct. 27 in central Berrien County but these tests indicate some blocks are ready. Harvest can be delayed if desired due to excellent firmness to wait for better skin color and higher brix.
Braeburn – Sampled Oct. 11, 2021
|
Site |
Firmness (lbs.) |
Red color range (%) |
Starch |
Soluble solids (°Brix) |
|
1 |
19.0 |
15-60 |
4.2 |
10.7 |
|
2 |
18.0 |
60-95 |
5.2 |
11.6 |
|
3 |
19.0 |
70-98 |
4.6 |
12.3 |
|
4 |
19.0 |
50-85 |
3.4 |
11.4 |
|
Average |
18.8 |
|
4.4 |
11.5 |
|
Max |
19.0 |
|
5.2 |
12.3 |
|
Min |
18.0 |
|
3.4 |
10.7 |
|
Recommended |
18-15 |
|
3.5 |
|
|
Braeburn maturity sampling for the harvest season |
|||
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 27 |
21.1 (20.3-22.0) |
2.9 (1.4-4.0) |
10.9 |
|
Oct. 4 |
19.8 (19.0-21.1) |
4.0 (3.2-5.4) |
10.9 |
|
Oct. 11 |
18.8 (18.0-19.0) |
4.4 (3.4-5.2) |
11.5 |
Evercrisp
This variety was harvested for the third week. Fruit firmness is still excellent at an average of 19.3 pounds, about the 1 pound less than last week. Starch conversion jumped from 2.7 last week to 4.4 for this week and are now considered internally mature. Penn State University recommends using starch index of 4-6 for long term storage and 6-7 for direct sales market. Cooler nighttime conditions are needed to intensify the red blush to improve its appeal in the marketplace. Evercrisp, like Fuji, is prone to watercore and internal browning in storage if picked too late. No watercore was seen for these two sites but has been reported at other locations.
Evercrisp – Sampled Oct. 11, 2021
|
Site |
Firmness (lbs.) |
Red color range (%) |
Starch |
Soluble solids (°Brix) |
|
1 |
20.1 |
50-85 |
4.8 |
15.3 |
|
2 |
18.4 |
70-98 |
4.0 |
14.2 |
|
Average |
19.3 |
|
4.4 |
14.8 |
|
Max |
20.1 |
|
4.8 |
15.3 |
|
Min |
18.4 |
|
4.0 |
14.2 |
|
Recommended |
18-15 |
|
3.5 |
|
|
Evercrisp maturity sampling for the harvest season |
|||
|
Sample date |
Firmness lbs. (range) |
Starch (range) |
Brix % |
|
Sept. 27 |
21.5 (21.0-22.0) |
2.5 (2.0-3.0) |
13.6 |
|
Oct. 4 |
20.6 (20.2-21.0) |
2.7 (2.4-3.0) |
13.9 |
|
Oct. 11 |
19.3 (18.4-20.1) |
4.4 (4.0-4.8) |
14.8 |
How to read the maturity tables
For each variety evaluated, each row in the data table is a different orchard block. Maximum and minimum values are the highest and lowest individual fruits evaluated for each. Recommended values are included for each variety at the bottom of the table. These suggested values for firmness and starch index were also published in a standalone table format. Firmness ranges encompass long and short-term storage recommendations.
Firmness in pounds pressure = measured with a FT Penetrometer using a 7/16 inch (11 millimeters) diameter probe, peel removed; range is for the average at each site.
Starch: 1 = no starch conversion, 8 = No starch; range is for average of the sites. Using Cornell Starch Iodine Index Chart.
Brix = % sugar measured with Atago PAL-1 Pocket Refractometer
Additional apple maturity helps
- Considerations for the 2021 harvest season can be found in this article.
- More information on harvest management tools and timings can be found in this article.
- Guidelines from MSU to check for apple maturity in your own orchard, including specific pressure and starch recommendations by variety.
- Predicting apple maturity and starch chart from Cornell University
- Starch chart for Honeycrisp Apples developed by Washington State University.
- View Michigan State University Extension’s Apple Maturity page for regional reports throughout the state and additional resources.
|
Suggested firmness and starch index levels for long-term and shorter-term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage by variety. |
|||||
|
Variety |
Firmness (pounds)* |
Starch Index* |
|||
|
Short CA |
Mid-CA |
Long CA |
Mature |
Over mature |
|
|
McIntosh |
14 |
15 |
16 |
5 |
7 |
|
Gala |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
6 |
|
Honeycrisp |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3.5 |
7 |
|
Empire |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
6 |
|
Early Fuji |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
7 |
|
Jonagold |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3.5 |
5.5 |
|
Jonathan |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
5.5 |
|
Golden Delicious |
15 |
16 |
17 |
3 |
6.5 |
|
Red Delicious |
16 |
17 |
18 |
2.5 |
6 |
|
Idared |
14 |
15 |
16 |
3.5 |
6 |
|
Fuji |
16 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
7 |
|
Rome |
15 |
16 |
18 |
3 |
5.5 |
|
Normal and predicted 2021 peak harvest dates for apple varieties in central Berrien County in southwest Michigan based on weather data at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton Harbor, MI. |
|||
|
Variety |
Normal date SW |
2020 Predicted 1st significant harvest date |
2021 Predicted 1st significant harvest date |
|
Paula Red |
22-Aug |
25-Aug |
13-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
25-Aug |
13-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
20-Aug |
23-Aug |
11-Aug |
|
Early Fuji |
3-Sep |
6-Sep |
25-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
11-Sep |
31-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
10-Sep |
13-Sep |
1-Sep |
|
Honeycrisp |
13-Sep |
15-Sep |
4-Sep |
|
Empire |
18-Sep |
21-Sep |
21-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
22-Sep |
24-Sep |
25-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
22-Sep |
24-Sep |
25-Sep |
|
Fuji |
25-Sep |
28-Oct |
28-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
25-Sep |
27-Sep |
28-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
28-Sep |
20-Sep |
3-Oct |
|
Ida Red |
5-Oct |
7-Oct |
10-Oct |
|
Rome |
5-Oct |
7-Oct |
10-Oct |
|
Braeburn |
20-Oct |
22-Oct |
25-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
26-Oct |
28-Oct |
27-Oct |
Please note that the predictions are for the first significant harvest date rather than peak harvest. Also note that the normal harvest date for Fuji is approximately three weeks ahead of the normal date given in previous years reports. Newer strains of Fuji have much earlier and more extensive red blush development than older strains. In the past, harvest of Fuji was delayed past optimum internal maturity to wait for better blush development. This delay has resulted in increased storage problems, including watercore and internal browning.