Southwest Michigan apple maturity report – September 3, 2025
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EmailMany Macintosh, Gala and Honeycrisp blocks are at or near maturity and beginning harvest.
This is our weekly southwest region apple maturity report. Reports are sent out following the Michigan State University Extension fruit team apple maturity calls on Wednesday morning. View Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Apple Maturity page for regional reports throughout the state and additional resources.
Overview
Macintosh, Gala and Honeycrisp varieties are at or near maturity depending on farm location. Blocks with light crop loads will mature three or four days sooner than the predicted harvest dates, while heavy crop loads will mature up to a week later than the predicted dates.
The Michigan apple crop forecast for 2025 is above average at 30 million bushels, as given in the USApple Crop Outlook on Aug. 15. The following tables give a summary for select varieties that are currently nearing harvest sampled from three orchards in Berrien County.
Gala (Standard)
Some Galas are beginning harvest, with starch tests primarily testing beyond the maturity threshold of 3. The firmness tests indicate fruit are within the appropriate range for long-term controlled atmosphere (CA) storage.
|
Collection Date |
Red Color (%) |
Firmness (lbs) |
Starch (1-8) |
Soluble Solids (°Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sep. 1 |
83 (65-95) |
18.1 (15 – 21.5) |
3.5 (3-4) |
10.3 (9.2-11.4) |
*Starch values according to the 1-8 scale developed by Cornell University.
Mac
Harvest has begun for some Macintosh blocks. Starch indices are in the mature range, all at or near the threshold of 5. Fruit firmness may be slightly soft for long-term storage (ideal pressure is 15-16 pounds for mid- to long term storage). Keeping a close eye on firmness will be important for making storage decisions.
|
Collection Date |
Red Color (%) |
Firmness (lbs) |
Starch (1-8) |
Soluble Solids (°Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sep. 1 |
76 (55-90) |
13.7 (12-16) |
4.8 (4-6) |
9.3 |
Honeycrisp
Starch values for honey crisp have been highly variable, with a big swing from the data last week. This week’s starches averaged 6.2—the mature starch threshold is 3.5. The predicted peak harvest date for central Berrien County is around Sept. 5, so many will begin harvest soon if they haven’t already.
Like other varieties, Honeycrisp stores better if harvested early in the maturation process. See “Comprehensive Honeycrisp harvest and storage recommendations” by Michigan State University (MSU) researcher Randy Beaudry for Honeycrisp harvest and storage recommendations.
|
Collection Date |
Red Color (%) |
Firmness (lbs) |
Starch (1-8) |
Soluble Solids (Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sep. 1 |
63 (45-80) |
14.5 (10.7-19.5) |
6.2 (5-8) |
11.7 (11.4-12) |
*Starch values according to the 1-8 scale developed by Cornell University.
Empire
This variety is averaging 2.1 for the starch test—the mature starch threshold is 3.5. The current average firmness reading is 21.2 pounds, compared to the desired minimum firmness for long-term CA storage of 16 pounds. The predicted peak harvest date for central Berrien County for fresh market CA storage is Sept. 16, perhaps a few days earlier than historical harvest dates. Early pickings could be recommended for taffy apples.
|
Collection Date |
Red Color (%) |
Firmness (lbs) |
Starch (1-8) |
Soluble Solids (Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sep. 1 |
79.5 (55-95) |
21.2 (14.7-25) |
2.1 (2-3) |
10.3 |
*Starch values according to the 1-8 scale developed by Cornell University.
Jonagold
This variety is averaging 2.6 for the starch test—the mature starch threshold for fresh market is 3.5. The current average firmness reading is 16.7 pounds, which is within range for the desired minimum firmness for long-term CA storage. Plant growth regulator applications, such as Retain, were applied the week of Aug. 18 in the some of the sampled Jonagolds. The predicted peak harvest date for central Berrien County is Sept. 19. Early pickings could be recommended for taffy apples.
|
Collection Date |
Red Color (%) |
Firmness (lbs) |
Starch (1-8) |
Soluble Solids (Brix) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sep. 1 |
30.5 (5-75) |
16.7 (13.8-20.5) |
2.6 (2-3) |
10.8 (10.6 -11) |
*Starch values according to the 1-8 scale developed by Cornell University
Apple maturity sampling parameters
- Color % = the visual percentage of red color (blush) from 0 to 100; range shown is for the orchard averages.
- Firmness in lbs pressure, skin off, as measured with a FT Penetrometer; range is for the site averages.
- Starch: 1 = all starch (solid blue staining), 8 = no starch (white); range is for the site averages. Starch Iodine Index Chart.
- Brix = % sugar measured with Atago PAL-1 Pocket Refractometer
|
Suggested firmness and starch index levels 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 |
See the following helpful resources for more information:
- 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.
