2026 Predicted Apple Harvest Dates – Northwest Michigan Region

2026 Predicted Apple Harvest Dates – Northwest Michigan Region

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July 29, 2026 - Nikki Rothwell<rothwel3@msu.edu> and Emily Lavely<lavelyem@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension

The information below includes predicted dates for peak harvest. Actual harvest dates may begin before and extend after these dates, and it is likely to vary based on specific location and conditions. This information is intended to be used by commercial growers to start planning harvest management. Interpretation is necessary for marketing purposes and fruit may be available in retail locations at different times.

The predicted harvest dates for all Michigan State University Enviroweather Stations are now available online and can be determined using the Apple Maturity Model on the Enviroweather Website. These models for McIntosh, Jonathan, and Red Delicious calculate predicted harvest dates based on full bloom date and the temperatures in the 30 days after bloom.

Most varieties appear to have slightly early to normal harvest dates. Bloom dates used for these predicted harvest dates were provided by MSU Enviroweather which are earlier than some of the observed bloom dates. Harvest dates will need to be adjusted as we get closer to harvest depending on temperatures leading up to harvest. There may be additional variation in apple maturity this season due to the extended bloom period and variable temperatures this spring. This year, it will be particularly important to test maturity block by block and to begin testing early.

Crop load is good in most locations, despite a cold spring with multiple freeze events. In general, return bloom was good in most varieties and locations. Gala crop load is moderate to heavy across the region. Crop load for varieties like Honeycrisp, EverCrisp, and Fuji is somewhat variable across the state and may be light in some orchards, particularly for Fuji. Blocks with light crop loads will mature 3 or 4 days sooner than the predicted harvest dates while heavy crop loads will mature up to a week later than the predicted dates. Regional differences in predicted peak harvest dates across Michigan are very evident this year, and there is clear separation for varieties by region.

Conditions during August and September will also affect harvest dates. If hot stressful weather occurs in August or September, apple maturity will be advanced, especially in early to mid-ripening cultivars.

Stop-drop materials. ReTain application can be applied 28, 21, 14, or 7 DBH (days before harvest). Harvista can be applied 3 to 7 DBH. Use Table 3, 2026 Predicted Harvest Dates for other Varieties, to time ReTain and Harvista applications and adjust for varieties and locations. These dates are estimates and will need to be adjusted for orchard locations.

The tables below list the normal and predicted harvest dates for varieties across the state. Table 1 lists the predicted harvest dates for locations across the state of Michigan for 2026. Table 2 lists this year’s predictions compared to normal. Table 3 lists the predicted harvest dates for 2026 for other varieties for the Northwest region, centered on Traverse City in Grand Traverse County. This year's predicted dates for other non-modeled varieties are a rough estimate based on the McIntosh, Jonathan, and Red Delicious predicted dates and historical experience in the area.

Table 1. 2026 Full bloom dates and predicted peak harvest dates across Michigan.

	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

*Bloom dates were indicated by the Enviroweather model and confirmed by actual observation.

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

* - is days earlier, + is days later than normal

Table 3. 2026 Predicted harvest date for Northwest region, based on Enviroweather weather data.

Variety	Normal	Predicted	Last Year
Paulared	1-Sep	29-Aug	2-Sep
Zestar	1-Sep	29-Aug	2-Sep
Gingergold	3-Sep	31-Aug	4-Sep
Gala	18-Sep	15-Sep	19-Sep
McIntosh	22-Sep	19-Sep	24-Sep
Honeycrisp	26-Sep	23-Sep	27-Sep
Empire	2-Oct	2-Oct	5-Oct
Jonathan	6-Oct	6-Oct	7-Oct
Jonagold	6-Oct	6-Oct	7-Oct
Fuji	7-Oct	7-Oct	10-Oct
Golden Delicious	10-Oct	10-Oct	13-Oct
Red Delicious	17-Oct	12-Oct	11-Oct
Idared	18-Oct	13-Oct	16-Oct
Rome	23-Oct	18-Oct	21-Oct
Braeburn	2-Nov	28-Oct	31-Oct
Goldrush	9-Nov	4-Nov	7-Nov

*Dates in this table were determined from average observations by industry members in the region.

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