Orchard Outlook: Honeycrisp and Ambrosia Fruit Maturity Report - Oct 1, 2025

Today's newsletter includes the final industry update for Honeycrisp. The second maturity update for Ambrosia is provided using the example regions. Just like with Honeycrisp, the Ambrosia maturity will be quite variable between blocks and is aligned with the early harvest season.

I want to again acknowledge the difficulty of this season. Harvest has been slow-going and frustrating across farms. Every day you're one step closer to finishing and you're making progress. I continue to hope for the best possible outcomes for each and every one of you. I'm here if you want to talk or vent frustrations.

Weather

Degree Day Accumulations

Total degree day accumulations are similar to the 5-year average and slightly warmer than the 10-year average (Figure 1). Even though temperatures have been average overall, Jeff Franklin emphasizes a lot of variability from the cycling of above- and below-average temperatures (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to September 29 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

• Approximately 1% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 4% more compared to the 10-year average.
• Approximately 2% less plant development heat units compared to 2024, and 3% more compared with 2023.
• Approximately 1% less insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 3% more compared to the 10-year average.

Figure 2: Temperature and precipitation plot from July to September relative to 25-year averages based on Kentville weather data. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

Fruit Maturity Reports

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.

Honeycrisp

Fruit representative of size and colour were taken from all sides but not from the interior of the canopy where maturity is expected to be delayed and is most likely targeted for a second pick timing.

Most of the Honeycrisp monitoring sites have had a first pick, meaning the information is no longer comparable or widely applicable. The only remaining monitoring site to represent fruit prior to the first harvest is the North Medford site shown in Table 1. 

Table 1: Maturity indices for regular Honeycrisp fruit sampled in the current year on Monday, Sept 29, 2025. Values are compared with the samples taken one week prior on Monday, Sept 12, 2025.

Table 1 Honeycrisp Discussion:

• Honeycrisp harvest is underway. Maturity should be monitored closely and first pick harvest is encouraged where colour is acceptable.
• Last week the monitoring sites in Rockland and Lakeville reached the start of the harvest window for first pick fruit. 
• North Medford has now reached maturity on the blocks being monitored.
• Maturity has been quite variable between blocks and between regions.
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage for Honeycrisp are between 5.0 and 7.5. Early harvest of Honeycrisp before starch 5.0 can lead to more bitter pit in storage whereas late harvest beyond starch 7.5 results in more soft scald.
• ReTain applied in Lakeville at 3 weeks before harvest did not appear to have much influence on the maturity of the first pick, so monitor similar situations.

Ambrosia

Fruit for samples were taken from throughout entire trees to target a one-pick harvest to strip the trees.

Table 2: Maturity indices for Ambrosia fruit sampled in the current year on Monday, Sept 29.

Table 2 Ambrosia Discussion:

• Similar to Honeycrisp, the maturity progression varies greatly by block and region. 
• 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.
• Starch conversion to sugar is progressing toward the harvest window in the Rockland example. It should be noted that low crop load in the Rockland example block could be contributing, in part, to early maturity. Some fruit taste starchy and some taste ready.
• Starch conversion has begun in Lakeville and North Medford but there is still some time before it reaches the level of harvest maturity. All fruit taste starchy.
• Consider Harvista if labour issues are anticipated. 
• The Ambrosia starch index values are similar to or slightly behind what was recorded last year during the early harvest season in 2024. Last year's harvest dates may be used as guidance.
• 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.
• The mass and diameter depend on crop load but they show a significant impact of the drought on marketable fruit across many regions. Older trees with deeper root systems appear less affected. 

Comments on colour progression:

• Red blush colour progressed well over the past week with more coverage and deeper red intensity (Figure 3). 
• The colour progression corresponds with cool (<10°C) nighttime temperatures and warm and sunny daytime conditions.
• The forecast for later this week looks conducive to continued colour development.
• Red colour varies greatly and there is less colour under drought stress or heavy crop load. 
• Yellow coloured background is visible on the Rockland sample, associated with approaching harvest maturity and in agreement with the starch conversion. At Lakeville and North Medford the background colour is still mostly green (Figure 4).

Figure 3: Progression of red blush colour change over time in 2025. Samples from each region are included from top to bottom over two sample dates. The last week has contributed a notable amount of red blush.

Figure 4: Progression of ground colour change over time in 2025. Samples from each region are included from top to bottom over four sample dates. The last week has revealed some fruit with a yellow tone indicative of approaching maturity.

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. 

Tree Nutrition

There has been some preliminary discussion around how to boost bud and overall tree health for the 2026 season. If there is time this season and while leaves are still on trees, there may be an opportunity to apply foliar nutrition that could be mobilized to the root system. Thank you to Kendra in New Brunswick for sharing information from Dr. Lailiang Cheng that reads:

"When there is drought stress in the fall, root uptake of nutrients is negatively affected, leading to lower reserve nutrient status in the tree particularly nitrogen and boron. If the trees are defoliated early due to drought, this would make the situation worse. We have been recommending putting on two sprays of foliar urea after fruit harvest at 10 days apart (from late Sept to late October) at 3% (25 lbs of urea per 100 gals of water). In the spray you can also add 1 lb of Solubor. These sprays are particularly important for trees with marginal N and B levels (leaf N < 2%; leaf B <25 ppm).

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.

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