MSU Fruit Team Apple Maturity Report - 2007
Northwest Region

Nikki Rothwell, Dist. Horticulturist, MSUE
Rob Sirrine, Leelanau County Extension Director, MSUE
Bill Klein, Farm Manager

NW MICHIGAN APPLE MATURITY REPORT #6
October 3, 2007

2007 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 - If you are interested in having your fruit tested, drop off a 10 to 12 apple sample at the NW Station on Mondays, if possible. The fruit should be picked randomly from the outside portion of the trees, should be large in size, free of blemishes, and with the stem attached. This will be the final report of the season.

Gala - Mature to over mature (1 sample). Firmness at 18.9 lbs., unchanged from last week. Starch index is at 6.2, up from 2.7 from last week. Brix levels are at 14.8. Color is over 90%. Most Gala have been harvested.

Empire – Mature (1 sample). Firmness at 16.1lbs., down from 18.2 lbs. last week. Starch index is at 3.0, up from 1.0 last week. Brix level is at 13.4. Color has improved to 90%. Many Empire in the area have been harvested.

Jonagold – Mature to over mature (2 samples). Firmness at 16.0 lbs., down from 17.7 lbs. last week. Starch index is at 7.5, up from 5.6 last week. Brix level is at 14.3. Color is excellent on most strains. Some strains may need to hang to gain more color.

Golden Delicious – Mature (3 samples). Firmness at 17.8 lbs., down from 19.5 lbs last week. Starch index is at 4.3, up from 2.0 last week. Brix level is at 15.4. Fruit are showing up to 25% blush, background color has started to break. Goldens are ready for CA storage.

Red Delicious - Mature (2 samples). Firmness at 17.2 lbs., down from 19.5 lbs. last week. Starch index is at 4.0, up from 2.6 last week. Brix level is at 13.7. Fruit is 100% colored and the color has deepened from last week. Red Delicious are ready for CA Storage.

IdaRed - Immature (2 samples). Firmness at 16.5 lbs. and the starch index is at 1.9. Brix level is at 13.1. Color ranges from 45 to 90%. IdaRed may be ready CA storage in about 1 week.

Southeast – Jonagold harvest nearly finished. Golden Delicious harvest is finishing up. IdaRed are ready this week. Fuji is mature, a bit earlier than normal. Red Delicious firmness is a concern.

Ridge / Clarksville – Goldens Delicious came off quickly this week. Red Delicious samples were variable, firmness is also a concern. IdaRed harvest should start this week. Harvest should wrap up in about 7 days. Jonagold are still waiting for color.

Mason / Oceana / Manistee – Many varieties are being harvest at this point. West Central is picking out higher than expected.

This report is sponsored by:

Gerber Products
Valent USA 
Project GREEEN  
Michigan State Horticulture Society
Michigan Apple Research Committee
Michigan Apple Shippers
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: 10-3-07