MSU Fruit Team Apple Maturity Report - 2006
Northwest Region

Jim Nugent, Dist. Horticulture Agent
Nikki Rothwell, Dist Fruit IPM Agent
Bill Klein, Farm Manager
Jim Bardenhagen, Leelanau Cty Extension Director

NW MICHIGAN APPLE MATURITY REPORT #6
October 11, 2006

2006 Predicted Harvest Dates

This year the NWMHRS will again be testing apples for maturity. Results will be sent via fax and email to past apple maturity list subscribers and results will be put on the pome fruit section of the code-a-phone (947-3063). The maturity newsletter and code-a-phone will be updated weekly on Wednesdays. If you have not received this information in the past and wish to subscribe to the list, please contact the NWMHRS (946-1510 or nwmihort@msu.edu). 

General Comments - This will be the final report of the season. If you have samples that you would like to have tested, feel free to bring them in and we will run them for you. We are entering the crunch time for apple harvest with many varieties beginning to mature at once. This is common and generally happens about the time that Empire is about mid way through harvest.

Gala - No samples tested this week. Gala is beyond the maturity level for anything but fresh sales.

Golden Delicious - Mature to over mature (2 samples). Firmness is at 17.3 lbs., down slightly from last week. Starch index is at 5.8, up from 4.5. Brix level is 14.3. Blush is at about 25%. One of the two samples is ready for mid term CA storage, while the other sample is over mature and should be placed in short term storage or be harvested for immediate sale.

Jonagold - No samples tested this week. Most of this variety is harvested. Fruit that is not already picked should be placed in short term storage or be harvested for immediate sale.

IdaRed - Entering the mature range (2 samples). Firmness is at 18.2 lbs. and starch index at 3.2, up from 2.4 last week. Brix level is 13.6. Color is excellent at around 90%. These samples should be ready for long term storage at the end of this week.

Red Delicious - Mature (2 samples). Firmness is at 20.2 lbs. Starch index is at 3.9, up from 2.9 last week. Brix level is 14.1. Both samples are ready for mid to long term CA storage.

Rome - Mature (3 samples). Firmness is at 21.4 lbs., down slightly from last week. Starch index at 4.2, up from 3.2 last week. Brix level is 14.3 and color is 100%. Many of the sampled fruit had color beginning to bleed into the flesh. Rome is ready for long term CA based on these samples

Northern Spy - Mature (1 sample). Firmness is at 20.6 lbs. Starch index at 3.4, up from 2.4 last week. Brix level is 14.7 and red color averages about 70% with no change in background color. Spy is mature for long term storage based on this sample.

Southwest - Red and Golden Delicious are nearly finished. Idared and Rome are being harvested for long term CA Storage. Fuji and Braeburn can be harvested if well colored.

Southeast - No report available as of this time.

Ridge / Clarksville - No report available as of this time.

Mason / Oceana / Manistee - Red Delicious is entering the mature range for long term CA. Rome - mature. Idared - expected to be mature in the next 5 to 7 days

This report is sponsored by:
Gerber Products
Valent USA 
Project GREEEN  
Michigan State Horticulture Society
Michigan Apple Research Committee
MSU Extension
Michigan Agricultual Experiment Station

Current pricing information can be obtained at the following web sites:
www.ams.usda.gov/marketnews.htm
www.bhfm.com

Maturity Reports from other Regions

NW Michigan Pome Fruit Code-a-phone/Apple Maturity Line (231) 947-3063.

Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site to:
Bill Klein, kleinw@msu.edu

Last Revised: 10-11-06