In cooperation with the Henderson County Master Pomology Program, we initiated an effort to monitor apple fruit maturity in commercial orchards in Henderson County, NC. The goal of this program is to provide timely updates regarding fruit maturity of several apple cultivars in the region. Data will be presented weekly to commercial apple growers via web-based updates to partly aid in harvest management decisions. Please note that the data presented is limited to the specific orchard block that we used for sampling. Do not assume that fruit at your location are at the same stage of maturity. To be clear, there is no substitute for regular monitoring of fruit quality parameters at your own operation.
2026 Apple Maturity Program [09.29.26]
Weekly Update (09.29.2026)
MAIA-1 (Evercrisp®) underwent some notable maturation this week where firmness decreased 1.7 lb from 19.4 to 17.7 lb, starch increased 1.4x from 3.7 to 5.3 and soluble solids rose from 13.9% to 15% week (Table 1, Figure 1). Marketable blush increased to 3.9% this week with some trees showing more advancement in color than others. Although marketable blush could show some improvement, all other fruit quality parameters suggest that these apples are ready for immediate harvest.
DT2 (Aztec® Fuji) apples benefited from the cooler temperatures this past week making a remarkable increase in marketable blush from 14% to 41% this week (Table 2, Figure 2). Fruit firmness came in at 15.7 lb, soluble solids at 15.7%, and average starch index pattern at 6. These apples are ready for immediate harvest.
Cripps Pink (Maslin) starch pattern index moved 1.6x from 2.2 to 3.6 with some variability in sampling population ranging from 1 to 7 (Table 3, Figure 3). All other fruit quality parameters have changed very slightly toward maturation. These apples remain immature at this sampling interval.
MAIA-1 (Evercrisp®)
| Table 1. 2026 MAIA-1 (Evercrisp®) fruit quality parameters in Edneyville, NC. | ||||||
| Date | Fruit Firmness (lb.) | Soluble Solids (%) | Starch pattern (1 to 8 scale) | Fruit Weight (g) | Fruit Diameter (inches) | Marketable Blush (%) |
| Sep 29 | 17.7 | 15.0 | 5.3 | 226 | 3.12 | 3.9 |
| Sep 22 | 19.4 | 13.9 | 3.7 | 212 | 3.05 | 0.2 |
| Sep 15 | 20.5 | 13.1 | 3.0 | 216 | 3.03 | 0.5 |
| Sep 09 | 21.8 | 13.3 | 2.0 | 210 | 3.02 | 6 |
| Sep 01 | 22.8 | 11.5 | 2.1 | 201 | 3.06 | 0 |
Figure 1. MAIA-1 (Evercrisp®) superficial appearance at the stem-end (top), shoulder (middle), and starch pattern (bottom) on 09.29.2026 in Edneyville, NC.
DT2 (Aztec® Fuji)
| Table 2. 2026 DT2 (Aztec® Fuji) fruit quality parameters in Edneyville, NC. | ||||||
| Date | Fruit Firmness (lb) | Soluble Solids (%) | Starch pattern (1 to 8 scale) | Fruit Weight (g) | Fruit Diameter (inches) | Marketable Blush (%) |
| Sep 29 | 17.0 | 15.7 | 6.0 | 230 | 3.10 | 41 |
| Sep 22 | 17.6 | 15.2 | 5.5 | 235 | 3.14 | 14 |
| Sep 15 | 18.7 | 14.8 | 4.3 | 249 | 3.25 | 12 |
| Sep 09 | 19.3 | 13.8 | 3.9 | 199 | 3.03 | 8 |
| Sep 01 | 20.1 | 13.1 | 3.3 | 205 | 2.98 | 6 |
| Aug 25 | 21.7 | 12.3 | 3.8 | 207 | 3.05 | 6 |
Figure 2. DT2 (Aztec® Fuji) superficial appearance at the stem-end (top), shoulder (middle), and starch pattern (bottom) on 09.29.2026 in Edneyville, NC.
Cripps Pink (Maslin)
| Table 2. 2026 DT2 (Aztec® Fuji) fruit quality parameters in Edneyville, NC. | ||||||
| Date | Fruit Firmness (lb) | Soluble Solids (%) | Starch pattern (1 to 8 scale) | Fruit Weight (g) | Fruit Diameter (inches) | Marketable Blush (%) |
| Sep 29 | 17.0 | 15.7 | 6.0 | 230 | 3.10 | 41 |
| Sep 22 | 17.6 | 15.2 | 5.5 | 235 | 3.14 | 14 |
| Sep 15 | 18.7 | 14.8 | 4.3 | 249 | 3.25 | 12 |
| Sep 09 | 19.3 | 13.8 | 3.9 | 199 | 3.03 | 8 |
| Sep 01 | 20.1 | 13.1 | 3.3 | 205 | 2.98 | 6 |
| Aug 25 | 21.7 | 12.3 | 3.8 | 207 | 3.05 | 6 |
Figure 3. Cripps Pink (Maslin) superficial appearance at the stem-end (top), shoulder (middle), and starch pattern (bottom) on 09.29.2026 in Edneyville, NC.
If of interest, please see our previous posts for more detailed information on how to manage fruit maturity. Specifically:
- Using PGRs to Manage Apple Preharvest Drop, Fruit Maturity, and Harvest Timing
- Apple Harvest Management Considerations: Special Focus on Gala
When should I harvest?
Optimal harvest timing is dictated by multiple factors, especially the intended market. While one size does not fit all, please see this resource from Michigan State University for some general guidelines.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful for the cooperation of Pat Lancaster and the team at Grandad's Apples for hosting this project. Thank you for your generous access to your farm and fruit! We sincerely appreciate the great work of the Henderson County Master Pomology Program. This dedicated team of volunteers inspired the initiation of this pilot program and is assisting with data collection. I will share more information about this group in the near future.
