Michigan statewide apple maturity report – August 26, 2026
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EmailKeep abreast of the latest apple maturity testing done in different cultivars around the state to optimize harvest times for storage and fresh picking.
This report provides data to compare apple maturity across the state. This will include information from multiple regions, but if available you should consult a maturity report from your specific region. Regional reports will include more information, including updates on harvest extenders and pest and disease management.
Predicted harvest dates
Table 1. 2026 predicted peak harvest dates.
| Full bloom date 2026 | Predicted harvest date 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | McIntosh | Jons | Reds | McIntosh | Jons | Reds | Observer |
| SWMREC | 15-Apr | 16-Apr | 16-Apr | 23-Aug | 7-Sep | 13-Sep | MSU EW |
| Deerfield | 16-Apr | 16-Apr | 17-Apr | 23-Aug | 6-Sep | 14-Sep | MSU EW |
| Romeo | 27-Apr | 29-Apr | 30-Apr | 2-Sep | 25-Sep | 2-Oct | MSU EW |
| Sparta | 24-Apr | 25-Apr | 25-Apr | 31-Aug | 20-Sep | 26-Sep | MSU EW |
| Hart | 6-May | 9-May | 11-May | 9-Sep | 30-Sep | 6-Oct | MSU EW |
| NWMHRS | 19-May | 22-May | 22-May | 19-Sep | 6-Oct | 12-Oct | MSU EW |
Table 2. 2026 predicted peak harvest dates compared to normal and last year.
| Days -/+ normal | Days -/+ last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station | McIntosh | Jons | Reds | McIntosh | Jons | Reds |
| SWMREC | -18 | -15 | -15 | -10 | -12 | -11 |
| Deerfield | -18 | -15 | -24 | -6 | -12 | -10 |
| Romeo | -11 | 0 | -1 | -7 | 3 | 3 |
| Sparta | -16 | -6 | -11 | -10 | -3 | -4 |
| Hart | -7 | -3 | -4 | -8 | -3 | -3 |
| NWMHRS | -3 | 0 | -5 | 0 | -3 | -2 |
- Southwest Michigan
- West Central Michigan
- Grand Rapids, Michigan does not have a report this week
- Northwest Michigan does not have a report this week
- Southeast Michigan does not have an independent apple maturity report
Check out the MSU Enviroweather Growing Degree Days (GDD) Michigan map. Find your closest weather station, create an account on the website, and track GDDs daily.
Maturity tables and summaries
Apple maturity sampling parameters
- Color % = the visual percentage of red color from 0 to 100; range is of all fruits tested
- Firmness in pounds pressure = measured with a Güss Fruit Texture Analyzer; range is of all fruits tested.
- Starch: 1 = all starch, 8 = No starch; range is of all fruits tested. Using Cornell Starch Iodine Index Chart. See the updated MSU starch chart.
- Brix = % sugar measured with Atago PAL-1 Pocket Refractometer
Table 3. Suggested firmness and starch index for long-term and shorter-term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage by variety.
| Variety | Firmness (lbs)* | Starch Index* | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short CA | Mid-CA | Long CA | Mature | Over-mature | |
| McIntosh | 14 | 15 | 16 | 5 | 7 |
| Gala | 16 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 6 |
| Honeycrisp | 15 | 16 | 17 | 3.5 | 7 |
| Empire | 14 | 15 | 16 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Early Fuji | 16 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 7 |
| Jonagold | 15 | 16 | 17 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| Jonathan | 14 | 15 | 16 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| Golden Delicious | 15 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 6.5 |
| Red Delicious | 16 | 17 | 18 | 2.5 | 6 |
| Idared | 14 | 15 | 16 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Fuji | 16 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 7 |
| Rome | 15 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 5.5 |
| Braeburn | 16 | 17 | 18 | 2.5 | 7 |
Southwest Michigan
In the Southwest region, early apple varieties of Gala and Premier Honeycrisp are being harvested this week. Paula Red, Pristine, Lodi, Gingergold and Transparent have been harvested. Honeycrisp, McIntosh and Gala are close to maturity, but immature when sampled on Monday. View the predicted harvest dates for Southwest Michigan.
| Cultivar | Collection Date | Fruit Weight (g) | Red Color (%) | Background color (5-1) | Firmness (lbs) | Starch (1-8) | Soluble Solids (Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gala | Aug 24 | 160(230-110) | 68 (90-25) | 2.3 (4-1) | 23.3 (29.0-16.0) | 2.1 (4-1) | 12.0 |
| Honeycrisp | Aug 24 | 159 (200-125) | 56 (70-25) | 3.7 (5-3) | 18.1 (22.0-15.0) | 2.7 (4-2) | 11.9 |
| McIntosh | Aug 24 | 171 (230-110) | 44 (90-0) | 4.5 (5-3) | 17.8 (25.0-10.0) | 3.1 (6-2) | 12.9 |
| Empire | Aug 24 | 171 (230-110) | 44 (90-0) | 4.5 (5-3) | 19.0 (26.0-12.0) | 3.1 (6-2) | 12.9 |
Southeast Michigan
We are moving along with harvest of early main like ‘Premier Honeycrisp’ and ‘Wildfire Gala.’ View the predicted harvest dates for Southeast Michigan.
Northwest Michigan
Reporting for data for Northwest Michigan will start in the coming weeks. View the predicted harvest dates for Northwest Michigan.
West Central Michigan
In the West Central region, early apple varieties of Paula Red, Premier Honeycrisp, and Minneiska are being harvested this week. Brookfield and Pacific strains of Gala and Honeycrisp are still immature. Fruit size is variable across sites. View the predicted harvest dates for West Central Michigan.
| Variety | Collection Date | Weight (g) | Red Color % | Background | Diameter (in) | Firmness (lb) | Starch | Brix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gala | 8/24/2026 | 143 (181-89) | 85 (100-50) | 1.6 (4-1) | 2.7 (3.21-2.2) | 21.4 (27.8-16.9) | 1.9 (3-1) | 10.6 (12-9.2) |
| Premier Honeycrisp | 8/24/2026 | 200 (239-170) | 76 (95-50) | 1.9 (4-1) | 3.1 (3.6-2.7) | 12.1 (12.9-10.6) | 6.4 (8-4) | 10.7 (11-10.4) |
| Honeycrisp | 8/24/2026 | 168 (185-153) | 68.7 (90-50) | 3.2 (4-1) | 2.9 (3.4-2.7) | 18.1 (20.1-15.3) | 1.2 (3-1) | 11.3 (12-11) |
| Minneiska | 8/24/2026 | 146 (173-119) | 86.4 (98-60) | 1.05 (2-1) | 2.74 (3.1-2.3) | 14.3775 (15.6-12.6) | 3.6 (6-2) | 12 (12-12) |
| Gala | 8/24/2026 | 143 (181-89) | 84.7 (100-50) | 1.6 (4-1) | 2.7 (3.21-2.2) | 21.4 (27.8-16.9) | 1.9 (3-1) | 10.6 (12-9.2) |
| Bartlett Pear | 8/24/2026 | 26 (140-0) | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | 8.6 (9.6-7.6) |
| September Wonder Fuji | 8/24/2026 | 144 (148-140.5) | 47.7 (85-20) | 4.0 (5-3) | 2.7 (3-2.3) | 16.1 (18.9-12.4) | 2.6 (4-1) | 10.6 (11-10.2) |
Grand Rapids region
Apple harvest has begun on a few early varieties like Wildfire Gala, Premiere Honey crisp and Maia. The predicted harvest date for Gala was Aug. 25, so site-specific maturity sampling should have already begun or start now. Double check prediction dates and PHIs before applying Retain and Harvista. View the predicted harvest dates for the Grand Rapids region.
| Variety | Collection Date | Weight (g) | Red Color % | Background | Diameter (in) | Firmness (lb) | Starch | Brix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Maia | 8/24/2026 | 139 (138.6-138.6) | 99 (100-90) | 1.4 (2-1) | 2.7 (3-2.4) | 22.7 (25.1-21.1) | 5 (5-5) | 12.3 (12.3-12.3) |
| Royal Red Honeycrisp | 8/24/2026 | 396 (454-371) | 56 (90-25) | 3.5 (5-2) | 3.0 (3.5-2.4) | 18.3 (23.7-12.7) | 2.4 (8-1) | 10.9 (11.1-10.4) |
| Buckeye Gala | 8/24/2026 | 325 (349-302) | 75 (100-40) | 1.9 (3-1) | 2.7 (3-2.5) | 20.6 (22.8-17.7) | 2.0 (4-1) | 9.9 (10.3-9.6) |
| Ambrosia | 8/24/2026 | 293 (293-290) | 32 (50-20) | 5 (5-5) | 2.7 (2.9-2.3) | 22.8 (26.2-18.2) | 1 (1-1) | 10.5 (10.5-9.1) |
| Melinda Mac | 8/24/2026 | 349 (349-349) | 63 (75-50) | 4.6 (5-4) | 3.0 (3.21-2.8) | 15.3 (15.9-14.4) | 4 (4-4) | 11.2 (11.2-11.2) |
Upcoming events
The Great Lakes Expo
The Great Lakes Expo, held annually in early December at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the largest show of its kind in the country. It attracts a diverse audience of apple growers from the Great Lakes region. Registration is open.
This year's Apple Sections take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8-9. Details about the Apple 1 and Apple 2 sessions will be in next week’s update.
Sweet and Hard Cider: Tuesday Morning
Hard Cider
- Tess Van Gorder, Making Sense of Wastewater for Cider Producers: The Big Picture
- Eric Campbell, New Promotional Guide for Michigan Hard Cider
Sweet Cider
- Tess Van Gorder, Making Sense of Wastewater for Cider Producers: Practical Strategies & Lessons Learned
- Laura Campbell, Navigating Water Withdrawals: Registration, Use, and Reporting
Cider Contest: Wednesday afternoon
The cider contest will judge the best ciders produced by Michigan cider makers (only Michigan cider producers are eligible). Here are some important details for the contest:
To enter, cider producers must submit two 1-gallon cider jugs at the Exhibitor Registration desk in the Grand Gallery concourse in DeVos Place on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to noon. No entries will be accepted after noon on Wednesday.
Cider samples must be thawed by 1 p.m. on Wednesday (this is the responsibility of each cider producer, not the contest coordinator).
Cider contest judging will be on Wednesday afternoon. Judging will be held in one of the main-level Grand Gallery meeting rooms and will be open for viewing starting at 1:30 p.m.
The top five winners will be notified prior to the EXPO Social so they can be in attendance. Winners will be announced at the EXPO Social on Wednesday evening. First place receives a plaque and a traveling trophy. Second and third places receive a plaque.
Don't miss this valuable opportunity to connect with industry experts, gain valuable knowledge and explore the latest advancements in the apple industry.
We look forward to seeing you there!
To get a better sense of the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo, check out this video.
Related articles
- The 2026 Michigan apple crop forecast, as given at the USApple Outlook meeting
- Predicted apple harvest dates for 2026 from MSU Extension.
- More information on harvest management tools and timings from MSU Extension.
- Post harvest treatments to extend apple life.
- Guidelines from MSU Extension to check for apple maturity in your own orchard, including specific pressure and starch recommendations by variety.
- Predicting apple maturity and starch chart from Cornell University.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (grant no 2024-70006-43569) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
