Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 8
Mike Basedow and Jenn Stanton, CCE-ENYCHP, Northern NY
This week we are reporting on Cortland, NY-1, Macoun, Ambrosia, and NY-2. The Cortland block we looked at is likely nearing the end of its potential for long-term CA storage. The NY-1 block has been spot picked, and remaining fruit are likely best for short term sales. The Macoun block is still holding up for long-term storage. The Ambrosia block is likely ready to pick for regular storage, and the NY-2 blocks will likely be ready for picking by the end of week into next week.
This week’s samples were collected on Monday September 30th and processed the same day. Fruit were picked from orchards in Peru.
Sample size is 10 fruit picked for average maturity, from multiple trees, on both sides of the row for Macoun and NY-2. NY-1 and Ambrosia were “spot-picked” for the reddest fruit.
As blocks continue to receive harvest management PGR’s we will update their treatment in the final data column so you can better compare against your blocks.
Due to the large amount of variability associated with strains, rootstock selections, planting systems, the widespread use of ReTain, Harvista, ethephon, and local orchard microclimates, it is impossible to sample and process enough locations to make specific harvest recommendations. ENYCHP HMP data is meant to be used as a general indicator of apple harvest maturity, and nothing more.
When we have them, we’ll also include data from previous years to serve as a comparison.
Weekly Summary of Fruit Maturity Progress
Cortland for 9/30/2024
Comments: The long-term CA storage guidelines for Cortland are an SPI range of 2.5-3.5 and firmness above 15 pounds. In our 10 fruit sample, the highest SPI reached a 5.7 this week, though this was the only one in the bunch above a 3. Firmness is still averaging just above 15 pounds in this block, with a few individual apples testing as low as 12.1 pounds. I think this is probably the last week I would be thinking about long-term storing fruit from this block. Testing finished here.
NY-1 for 9/30/2024
Comments: Block 2 was picked clean last week, so we only looked at one block this week. Color was very good in the spot picked fruit we sampled. Background color is now becoming more cream than green in just about all of the fruit we checked. Brix is within the recommended range, and fruit are starting to get their tree ripened flavor. Firmness is still holding steady in the recommended harvest range. Starch is now just above the recommended 3-5 for long term storage, however starch is considered very unreliable with this variety. Given the low DA levels, the advancing background colors, and the advancing starch, I would plan to get these fruit off this week, and I would probably look to do regular atmosphere storage and short term sales on them.
For NY-1, you are aiming for a minimum of 2/3 red color. The target color should be a dark red; however, fruit harvested earlier for CA will likely not have perfect color. Target firmness is 15-18 pounds, target brix is 13-15%. The SPI is targeted at 3-5, but this may not be a particularly reliable indicator. As with last season, there is the intent to put more fruit in controlled atmosphere (CA), for marketing in 2025. A percentage of fruit will still be picked “later” for more tree-ripened flavor and put into regular atmosphere (RA) for sale in the fall and early winter. Stay in close contact with your individual marketer/packer for harvest timing and marketing plans for your NY-1 blocks. Testing finished here.
Macoun for 9/30/2024
Comments: Fruit in this block are still firm enough for CA storage, and are still just below the 3-4.5 SPI range for CA storage. I thought flavor was good on the fruit I tasted. We think this block is ready for a pick this week if it is going to be put into CA.
For CA, you’re targeting firmness > 15 lbs, with an SPI of 3-4.5. Note that this is a drop susceptible variety. We will test this block again next week, unless it has already been picked by then.
Ambrosia for 9/30/2024
Comments: Ambrosia seem to be well ahead of their usual timing this season. Fruit sampled today had very good flavor. Color was very good on the fruit we sampled, as was brix. Fruit are starting to be below the recommended firmness recommendation of 18-19 pounds for longer term storage. DA readings suggest fruit are still acceptable for longer term storage, but with the dropping firmness and increasing starch values I’d probably go with regular atmosphere, short term storage or short term sales at this point. This block is ready for picking if fruit are destined for regular atmosphere storage, and will likely be ready for picking for more immediate sales by the end of the week.. I would be monitoring this block closely.
For Ambrosia, target a starch of 2.7 to 3.5 for CA storage, 3.5-5.0 for regular storage, and greater than 5.0 for immediate retail sales. IAD readings of 0.7-0.5 for longer storage, 0.5-0.3 for short term storage, and below 0.3 should be marketed immediately. Target 18-19 lbs firmness, and 11% brix. Once sufficient starch clearing has occurred for your market, harvest all fruit meeting minimum color requirements. Maturation goes quickly in this variety, so once first harvest has occurred, a second should be made within a week. Testing finished here.
NY-2 for 9/30/2024
Comments: Color is very good in this block. Firmness is holding much better this year relative to last year. Brix is currently below the recommended range. The starch pattern is within the recommended 3-5, but tends to be unreliable in this variety. Background color was starting to change in a few of the fruit we looked at, and some of the fruit had the beginnings of varietal flavor. I think this variety is trending a little early this year as well, and might be ready to pick later this week, into next week.
Look to harvest when you have a minimum of 3/4 dark red color. If 90% of fruit meet the color requirement, clean the tree. Target firmness is 16-20 pounds. Target brix is 12-13%. The starch pattern index (SPI) is recommended at 3-5, but starch is unreliable. Watch for greasiness, an indication of over-maturity. The wax will not adhere well to greasy apples on the packing line. Most (if not all) NY-2 are to be put into CA. Therefore, you want to harvest the fruit on the early side of maturity. In addition, varietal flavor does not develop on the trees as it does for NY-1. However, if you do not harvest fruit with at least some varietal flavor, it will not develop in storage. Stay in close contact with your individual marketer/packer for harvest timing and marketing plans for your NY-2 blocks. I will test this block again next week, unless it has been picked by then.
Next week we will continue testing the Macoun and NY-2 blocks, and we will also begin testing Aztec Fuji and Early Cripps Pink (Pink Lady™) ‘Barnsby’.