Orchard Outlook: Ambrosia Fruit Maturity Report - Oct 14, 2025

Today's newsletter is the fourth maturity update for Ambrosia and it will be the final maturity report for the season. These results continue to suggest early Ambrosia maturity relative to average, and now even slightly advanced maturity compared with the 2024 harvest season. The Ambrosia blocks being monitored are ready for harvest. Harvest beyond optimal maturity is at greater risk of senescent breakdown, coreflush, and greasiness.

Once again, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to the farms that have agreed to be the long-term monitoring sites for industry-wide updates on maturity. 

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Please note that the DA meter is misaligned with maturity indices this year and is giving variable results, therefore our preference is for relying on starch and flavour as maturity indicators. The DA meter was developed as a tool based on the relationship between chlorophyll degradation and the rate of change of maturity indices and in some years the relationship may not align.

• Even if DA values do not make sense for comparing years, the values should still be useful for comparing blocks to decide which to harvest first.

Important Note - The following information is for general industry purposes only. Growers are encouraged to use their own discretion to harvest trees that are exhibiting delayed colour development or exhibiting maturity indices that disagree with what is being reported here. Values were measured on an average of fruit that were representative of the block's crop load and tree vigour. Fruit for Ambrosia samples were taken from throughout entire trees to target a one-pick harvest to strip the trees.

Table 1: Maturity indices for Ambrosia fruit sampled in the current year on Tuesday, October 14. Values are compared with the samples taken last week on Oct 7 to estimate a weekly rate of change.

Table 1 Ambrosia Discussion:

• The maturity varies greatly by block and region. However, the samples suggest that more Ambrosia blocks are reaching maturity.
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage of Ambrosia are between 2.8 and 4.5.
• A starch index beyond 4.5 is at increasingly greater risk of senescent breakdown, coreflush, and greasiness. The incidence of the disorders has been shown to roughly double for every 1.0 unit above the ideal starch index of 4.5 units.
• The starch index on the ReTain treated fruit in Lakeville is 3.9 and North Medford is 3.4 placing both blocks within the optimal harvest window for long term storage. The starch flavour is no longer present.
• The Ambrosia starch index values at the monitoring regions are now at an advanced state of maturity compared with what was recorded last year at this same time. They are more mature by about +1.0 starch index units.
• Soluble solids values in our region for Ambrosia tend to be 12% at around optimum harvest maturity and this year the values are already higher than usual, especially on young trees.
• Yellow coloured background is present where harvest maturity is reached.

About each maturity measurement:

Starch Index - Starch is converted to sugars as ripening progresses. The starch-iodine test is used because iodine binds to starch molecules turning them blue/black, whereas sugars are not stained and remain clear. The Cornell chart on a scale of 1 to 8 was used above and values are an average of ten representative samples from each block.

Soluble Solids - Approximates the percentage of sugar content of the fruit. Measured using a digital refractometer. Values are an average of ten representative samples from each block taken on the blush side of each fruit.

DA Meter - The delta absorbance (DA) value is related to the chlorophyll content of the peel. AAFC researchers in Kentville developed a protocol for Honeycrisp and Ambrosia. Values shown above are the average of twenty fruit taken throughout a block, with readings taken on the transition area between the sun and shade exposed sides. DA values will be noticeably different between the most mature and least mature fruit on a tree. 

Notices

  

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture - 2025 Drought Impact Assessment Survey

The NSFA are gathering feedback from farmers on the impacts of the 2025 drought. The results will be shared with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to help inform future programs and supports.

This short survey (10–15 minutes) will give you the opportunity to share:

How your farm operations were affected.
The challenges you faced.
What supports are most needed going forward.

All responses are confidential and will only be reported in aggregate.

By sharing your experience, you are helping shape future programs, advocacy, and supports that can strengthen farm resilience in the face of extreme weather. Share Your Impact with NSFA. (NSFGA from a few weeks ago was a separate survey).

Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission

The Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission has advised that for any insured perennial crops showing plant damage that may result in yield loss next year, they encourage producers to submit a Notice of Damage now.

AgriStability 2025 – Late Participation Now Open for Nova Scotia Producers

Although the enrolment deadline for 2025 has passed you can still participate in AgriStability as a late participant. Nova Scotia farmers now have until September 30, 2026, to join the AgriStability program as late participants, thanks to a special provision granted in response to ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector.

AgriStability provides financial support when your farm's 2025 production margin falls by more than 30% below your reference margin, helping producers manage risks from weather events, rising costs, and market disruptions. Late participation ensures that more producers can access vital support—even if they missed the original enrolment deadline.

Please reach out to the Business Risk Management Advisory for more details- Erin Sears (902) 324-8784, Erin.Sears@novascotia.ca

Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp.
Edited by Michelle Cortens, Tree Fruit Specialist