Southeast Michigan fruit update – August 19, 2025
Print
EmailRed Haven harvest, early apples and veraison in grapes.
Welcome to the 19th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2025 season. Throughout the season these updates will include information about the weather in the past week and the upcoming week, a fruit-by-fruit guide to current conditions with appropriate pest and disease updates, and other relevant observations.
General observations
The last few days have ushered in a cooldown with fair weather, which will be good for grape, peach and early apple harvest. Growers in the region solidly in the Haven peach varieties and early apples like Jersey Mac and Paula Red are being picked. Blueberries are wrapping up, but blackberry and fall raspberry harvest continue. Early grape varieties like Reliance have been harvested with hybrid winegrape harvest expected in the next week.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates wrapped up in June. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Early varieties like Paula Red, Sunrise and Pristine are on shelves. Fruit is expanding and many growers are between their seventh and eighth cover sprays. There is some risk for powdery mildew infections on Aug. 21 with airborne conidia being present all week. Risk for secondary scab is low. The apple maturity prediction table is below, and the statewide apple maturity report is anticipated to start next week.
Table 1. Normal and 2025 peak harvest dates for varieties for southeast Michigan.
|
Variety |
Normal |
Predicted |
Last Year |
|
Paulared |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
23-Aug |
19-Aug |
9-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
4-Sep |
24-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
13-Sep |
9-Sep |
26-Aug |
|
Honeycrisp |
16-Sep |
12-Sep |
29-Aug |
|
Empire |
20-Sep |
17-Sep |
7-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
23-Sep |
22-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
23-Sep |
20-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Early Fuji |
25-Sep |
22-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
29-Sep |
26-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
1-Oct |
29-Sep |
17-Sep |
|
Idared |
6-Oct |
2-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Rome |
11-Oct |
7-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Late Fuji |
22-Oct |
18-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Braeburn |
23-Oct |
19-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
31-Oct |
27-Oct |
15-Oct |
Blueberries
Farms in the region are in the late end of blueberry harvest. Many growers in southwest Michigan are already at the end of their picks. The main concern now is spotted wing drosophila.
Brambles
Harvest of fall raspberries has commenced at some farms while blackberries continue to be picked.
Cherries
Harvest has concluded.
Grapes
Early cultivars like Reliance have been picked. Veraison continues around the region, with later coloring varieties starting to turn. Marquette grapes are past 20 Brix with harvest anticipated in the next week. Grape berry moth trap counts remain low in Lenawee and Macomb counties. Powdery mildew infection risk is high throughout the week of Aug. 23-28. Black rot and downy mildew risk remain low this week.
Peaches and nectarines
Many peaches in the Haven series are being picked.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding are starting to show some color. Some growers are noticing russeting on pears and considerable pear psylla-associated leaf blotches.
Plums
Harvest continues in many plum varieties. Shiro, Methley and Santa Rosa plums have been picked in the region while Italian plums are taking on color.
Strawberries
Harvest has concluded in the region. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. You can read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
Insect conditions
Aphids: Green apple aphid numbers seem to be on the rise in the southern part of the region and northwest Ohio, but lower in the Romeo area. Woolly apple aphids are present but seem to be under control in the region.
Apple maggot: Catches in southeast Michigan have declined, with scouts typically catching 0-2. Catches at Fennville remain high.
Brown marmorated stink bug: Some damage has been seen. This pest is hard to control because it is active so close to apple harvest.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts have dropped in southeast Michigan. With the current weather patterns and our growing degree day accumulation we anticipate a third generation this year in the region. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: Catches are down, with counts mostly below five in southeast Michigan and Fennville. Not much damage has been observed.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed regionally along with some damage.
Rust mites: Bronzing damage has been seen.
San Jose scale: Male counts have declined in Fennville.
Spotted wing drosophila: Most traps have been taken down. Counts are down in remaining traps due to control.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Black rot in apple: Light infections seen around the region on fruit and leaves
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk for additional cherry leaf spot infections this week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: Some powdery mildew has already been reported in the region, though treatments seem to have been effective at keeping it under control. Anticipated risk is low this week.
Powdery mildew of grape: Risk anticipated from Aug. 23-28.
Sooty blotch and fly speck: Trace amounts seen around the region
Seasonal weather update
In the last two weeks, southeast Michigan has seen on average of over 8 hours of rain accumulating to about 1.3 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- August 18, 2025, issued August 18, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 15.6 | 261 | 19.2 | 275 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 17.4 | 253 | 16.1 | 259 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 15.1 | 265 | 17.5 | 264 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 18.5 | 245 | 16.0 | 272 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 17.0 | 303 | 17.9 | 270 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 14.5 | 237 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.1 | 262 | 16.7 | 264 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 15.4 | 243 | 14.9 | 253 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 21.1 | 265 | 16.1 | 291 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 14.1 | 247 | 15.3 | 249 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 16.9 | 296 | 14.0 | 257 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 20.1 | 257 | 16.0 | 244 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.0 | 246 | 18.6 | 264 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 16.4 | 227 | 14.2 | 299 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 17.1 | 257.6 | 16.3 | 266.2 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed August 4 and August 18, 2025; issued August 18, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Two Week | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | Two Week | |
| Station (County) | 4-Aug | 18-Aug | Difference | 4-Aug | 18-Aug | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 14.4 | 15.6 | 1.2 | 253 | 261 | 8.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 16.2 | 17.4 | 1.1 | 248 | 253 | 5.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 14.9 | 15.1 | 0.2 | 260 | 265 | 5.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 17.1 | 18.5 | 1.4 | 237 | 245 | 8.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 16.1 | 17.0 | 0.9 | 295 | 303 | 8.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 13.0 | 14.5 | 1.6 | 225 | 237 | 12.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 15.2 | 16.1 | 0.9 | 258 | 262 | 4.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.9 | 15.4 | 1.5 | 233 | 243 | 10.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 19.0 | 21.1 | 2.1 | 255 | 265 | 10.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 12.3 | 14.1 | 1.7 | 236 | 247 | 11.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.9 | 16.9 | 1.0 | 290 | 296 | 6.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 18.3 | 20.1 | 1.8 | 245 | 257 | 12.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 19.8 | 21.0 | 1.1 | 237 | 246 | 9.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.9 | 16.4 | 1.4 | 218 | 227 | 9.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 15.8 | 17.1 | 1.3 | 249.3 | 257.6 | 8.4 |
In the short term, we are expecting cool and fair conditions with some potential for scattered showers on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23. Temperature highs will stay in the 70s all week with lows between the low 50s to low 60s.
In the medium term, we are expecting below normal temperatures and precipitation to be a little below normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for temperature to be above normal and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last two weeks we gained an average of 339 growing degree days at base 50 in the region. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-August 18, 2025 Forecast from August 19-24, 2025; issued August 18, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3119 | 2982 | 3321 | 2721 | 2590 | 2902 | 2104 | 1988 | 2250 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3395 | 3241 | 3597 | 2979 | 2833 | 3160 | 2332 | 2203 | 2479 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3213 | 3032 | 3412 | 2809 | 2635 | 2987 | 2181 | 2027 | 2324 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2844 | 2836 | 3033 | 2455 | 2448 | 2623 | 1861 | 1854 | 1994 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3309 | 3142 | 3512 | 2904 | 2744 | 3086 | 2275 | 2129 | 2422 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3101 | 2991 | 3293 | 2709 | 2601 | 2879 | 2107 | 2001 | 2243 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3247 | 3129 | 3447 | 2844 | 2733 | 3024 | 2222 | 2122 | 2367 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3248 | 3122 | 3443 | 2847 | 2726 | 3021 | 2230 | 2112 | 2369 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3075 | 2953 | 3266 | 2680 | 2564 | 2850 | 2069 | 1968 | 2204 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2847 | 2786 | 3034 | 2468 | 2406 | 2634 | 1889 | 1825 | 2020 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2865 | 2851 | 3054 | 2485 | 2471 | 2654 | 1909 | 1888 | 2042 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3115 | 3056 | 3306 | 2718 | 2662 | 2887 | 2103 | 2050 | 2238 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3126 | 3019 | 3323 | 2728 | 2624 | 2904 | 2112 | 2017 | 2253 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2985 | 2882 | 3173 | 2597 | 2500 | 2764 | 2003 | 1913 | 2135 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3106 | 3002 | 3301 | 2710 | 2610 | 2884 | 2100 | 2007 | 2239 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed August 4 and August 18, 2025; issued August 18, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F |
| 4-Aug | 18-Aug | Difference | 4-Aug | 18-Aug | Difference | 4-Aug | 18-Aug | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2667 | 3119 | 452.0 | 2312 | 2721 | 409.0 | 1764 | 2104 | 340.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2933 | 3395 | 462.0 | 2559 | 2979 | 420.0 | 1982 | 2332 | 350.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2754 | 3213 | 459.0 | 2391 | 2809 | 418.0 | 1834 | 2181 | 347.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2438 | 2844 | 406.0 | 2090 | 2455 | 365.0 | 1567 | 1861 | 294.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2825 | 3309 | 484.0 | 2463 | 2904 | 441.0 | 1903 | 2275 | 372.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2647 | 3101 | 454.0 | 2297 | 2709 | 412.0 | 1765 | 2107 | 342.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2803 | 3247 | 444.0 | 2442 | 2844 | 402.0 | 1891 | 2222 | 331.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2778 | 3248 | 470.0 | 2419 | 2847 | 428.0 | 1872 | 2230 | 358.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2629 | 3075 | 446.0 | 2276 | 2680 | 404.0 | 1736 | 2069 | 333.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2417 | 2847 | 430.0 | 2080 | 2468 | 388.0 | 1572 | 1889 | 317.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2415 | 2865 | 450.0 | 2078 | 2485 | 407.0 | 1571 | 1909 | 338.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2664 | 3115 | 451.0 | 2308 | 2718 | 410.0 | 1764 | 2103 | 339.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2669 | 3126 | 457.0 | 2313 | 2728 | 415.0 | 1767 | 2112 | 345.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2537 | 2985 | 448.0 | 2191 | 2597 | 406.0 | 1667 | 2003 | 336.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2655 | 3106 | 451 | 2301 | 2710 | 409 | 1761 | 2100 | 339 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's biweekly agricultural weather forecast reports.
More information and reports on normal weather conditions and departures from normal can be found on the NOAA Climate Prediction Center website, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals website, NOAA Climate Normals Quick Access Page (which may be searched by region), and Midwest Regional Climate Center website.
