Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 2
Mike Basedow and Jenn Stanton, CCE-ENYCHP, Northern NY
This week we are once again reporting on Wildfire Gala, Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Premier Honeycrisp, and Zestar!. The Wildfire Gala and Paula Reds look to be ready for picking now, while Ginger Gold and Premier Honeycrisp are likely looking towards the end of this week in Peru.
This week’s samples were collected Monday, August 18 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 Paula Red and Ginger Gold. Wildfire Gala, Premier Honeycrisp, and Zestar! were “spot-picked” for the most red fruit.
None of the blocks sampled have yet to receive any harvest PGR treatments, but as blocks receive them 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 I have them, I’ll also include data from previous years to serve as a comparison.
Weekly Summary of Fruit Maturity Progress
Wildfire Gala for 8/18/2025
Comments: This is an early ripening strain of Gala. Color is similar to last week in this block, looking very good on the fruit sampled. Color is relatively good across the block, but the block will likely require a second pick. Background color is also beginning to change to cream, and fruit flavor is beginning to develop. The starch is also beginning to move, so I expect this block will likely be ready for a first pick later this week.
For Gala, firmness is not a major issue, and the starch pattern is an unreliable indicator of maturity. It is not uncommon to have a range of 1-7 or 2-8 in SPI’s from one 10 apple sample from a block, in which all the fruit (externally) look to be of nearly the same maturity. Target a brix above 12%, and varietal flavor development. For long term CA stored fruit, you do not need to wait for background color change from light green to cream. Fruit with a bright yellow background are over-mature and should not be stored long-term, instead market these fruit immediately. We may test this block again this week, if it hasn’t been picked over before then.
Paula Red for 8/18/2025
Comments: Fruit in this block are just starting to pick up a little bit of cream in their background color. Brix and SPI are lower than last year at this same date. SPI and firmness still have a little ways to go. I think this block may be ready by the end of the week for a pick, possibly into early next week.
The main maturity indices for this variety are the changing of the background color from green to creamy yellow, apples loosening on the stem, a starch reading near 3.0, and firmness between 15-16 psi. We will continue testing this block next week, if they haven’t been picked by then.
Ginger Gold for 8/18/2025
Comments: Background color is slowly starting to pick up some cream, though is still somewhat green. SPI has not moved yet. I think this block has at least another week to go. Fruit did not yet have any discernible varietal flavor.
The main maturity index is the change in ground color from green to cream (earlier harvest, longer storage) or cream to yellow (short-term storage) and the development of varietal flavor. We will continue testing this block next week.
Premier Honeycrisp for 8/18/2025
Comments: The spot-picked fruit I selected are still quite green in background color, and lack red color development. SPI has not moved much at all, and brix is still low. Flavor still needs to develop. I think this block is likely at least a week out still.
This new strain of Honeycrisp is supposed to color like the original, but mature about 3 weeks earlier. The same guidelines should apply to this strain as standard Honeycrisp. Firmness greater than 14 pounds and a brix above 13% are desirable. Do not pick fruit that have not developed “acceptable” varietal flavor and proper color. Ideal is the ground color turning to cream with 80% bright red cheek. Look for color that jumps out when the yellow background color makes the red almost florescent or iridescent. Once color change has happened, then an every other day walk-through is warranted to determine readiness. We will check this block again next week.
Zestar! for 8/11/2025
Comments: Starch is moving a little, but still below the recommended range. Fruit are still very firm, could use more brix, and are still lacking in flavor. I think we’ve still got at least another week on this variety.
Exact maturity indices have not been developed for our area, but fruit for picking generally has a brix of 12-13%, starch in the 3.5-6.5 range, and pressure from 12-14 pounds. A rule of thumb is when the brix goes above the firmness, the apple is at its peak. This is usually a 2 pick variety. The second pick follows 5-7 days after the first. We will test this block again next week.
We will continue testing these blocks again next week, unless they’ve been picked over by then.