Tree Fruit Maturity Report — October 3, 2025
Maturity Report
Apples
McIntosh apples at Highmoor Farm have been harvested. Both strains of McIntosh are too ripe for long-term storage. None of our blocks were treated with ReTain or Harvista.
Honeycrisp blocks have been harvested. Fruit remaining on the tree indicate that ripening is at an advanced stage and are too ripe for cold storage because of high risk for chilling injury, greasiness and loss of flavor. At this time, they could develop injury despite conditioning. Chilling injury can develop within two weeks of going into cold storage.
Cortland is suitable for storage.
Macoun apples at Highmoor Farm have been harvested.
Golden Delicious is ready to harvest for long-term storage.
Fuji is close to optimum maturity for long-term storage.
Evercrisp is not yet ready for long-term storage. It also has mild to moderate watercore in most fruit and could develop internal browning or off-flavors if put directly into controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. It’s also susceptible to carbon dioxide injury in CA storage. In cold storage, some of the watercore will dissipate with little impact on marketability. Cold storage rather than CA is recommended for this variety.
Ambrosia is a relatively new variety that ripens in late September. Our Ambrosia apples are ok to pick for storage, but they taste ripe. We have no experience in storing this variety, but it has been studied in Canada. Recommendation for long-term storage is to harvest when starch index is 2.7 to 3.5 and DA below 0.70. Ambrosia is susceptible to chilling injury in cold storage.
| Variety | Starch Index 9/16/25 | DA 9/16/25 | Starch Index 9/19/25 | DA 9/19/25 | Starch Index 9/26/25 | DA 9/26/25 | Starch Index 10/3/25 | DA 10/3/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeycrisp | 6.1 | 0.75 | 6.4 | 0.58 | 7.6 | 0.55 | 8.0 | 0.28 |
| McIntosh (standard) | 4.7 | 1.86 | 5.4 | 1.78 | 5.6 | 1.90 | 6.8 | 1.63 |
| McIntosh (spur type) | 4.6 | 1.67 | 5.0 | 1.70 | fruit are dropping fast | – | 6.5 | 1.35 |
| Cortland | 1.3 | 1.69 | 1.7 | 1.53 | 2.2 | 1.35 | 3.7 | 1.17 |
| Fuji | 1.6 | 1.92 | 2.3 | 1.79 | 2.2 | 1.75 | 2.5 | 1.57 |
| Golden Delicious | 1.4 | 1.52 | 1.5 | 1.65 | 3.5 | 1.57 | 4.5 | 1.18 |
| Evercrisp | 1.0 | 1.42 | 1.2 | 1.36 | 1.4 | 1.23 | 1.9 | 1.10 |
| Ambrosia | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3.4 | 0.78 |
* DA is a measure of chlorophyll breakdown in the peel which parallels ripening. Numbers decrease as fruits ripen. Gala and Honeycrisp readings between 0.8 and 0.3 indicate sufficient maturity for storage. McIntosh DA has not closely followed harvest maturity in years past and remains much higher than in other varieties. Cortland and Macoun DA, in the past, has decreased below 1.5 during the harvest window. Standards for other varieties are currently being developed.
The following is a rough guide to what the starch index numbers mean for apple ripening:
1 – 2: indicates lack of starch breakdown and generally unripe.
3: partially ripe, but prone to disorders in long-term storage.
4: typically ready to pick for long-term storage.
5 – 6: indicates good flavor and ready for general harvest or harvest for short-term storage.
7 – 8: indicates fully ripe, too ripe for long-term storage.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MAINE Farm Service Agency (FSA)
We are sharing the following information provided by Tommy Higgins, State Executive Director, Maine Farm Service Agency.
As of Thursday, September 18, six counties in Maine are now classified as D3 (Extreme Drought): Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Franklin, Somerset, and Oxford. In addition, our coastal counties stretching from Washington to Lincoln have remained in D2 (Severe Drought) for five consecutive weeks.
Any period at D3 triggers multiple federal programs, including:
- Livestock Forage Program (LFP): Provides payments to livestock producers for grazing losses. D2 status triggers one month of payments; D3 triggers three months.
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP): Financial assistance for transporting water to livestock. Documentation of gallons hauled is required.
- Emergency Conservation Program (ECP): Cost share (up to 75%) to provide emergency water for grazing/confined livestock and existing orchards/vineyards. Eligible practices include pipeline installation, well construction, and spring/seep development.
- Emergency Farm Loans (EM Loans): Triggered by Secretarial Disaster Designations, offering low-interest loans to restore/reorganize operations, cover production costs, or refinance certain debts.
Additional Programs:
- Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): Producers must notify their county FSA office of losses within 15 days of a natural disaster, or within 72 hours for certain hand-harvested and perishable crops. A completed Notice of Loss (CCC-576) is required.
- Tree Assistance Program (TAP): Available to orchardists and nursery growers experiencing natural disaster losses.
For assistance, please contact your local FSA office.
You may also sign up to stay informed through USDA updates.
Important Actions for Maine Farmers
Report Losses Promptly
- Contact your local FSA office to report any drought-related crop or livestock losses.
- Even small losses matter – they help trigger federal disaster designations.
- Deadlines:
- Most crops: report within 15 days of the event, damage becoming visible, or normal harvest date.
- Hand-harvested/perishable crops (berries, tomatoes, grapes, herbs): report within 72 hours of loss.
Document Impacts
- Keep written records and photos of drought impacts on crops, pastures, livestock, and water systems.
- Save receipts for any water hauling, feed purchases, or emergency repairs.
Stay Informed
- Check the Maine Drought Taskforce for updates and resources
- Check the U.S. Drought Monitor (updated Thursdays).
- Subscribe to the Maine FSA monthly newsletter for program updates.
- Visit DACF’s agricultural water management webpage for drought strategies.
Review the Federal Assistance Programs detailed and hyperlinked above.
Plan Ahead
- Consider applying to DACF’s Farmer Drought Relief Program (next round expected in late 2025) for long-term investments in water management and irrigation.
Contact the DACF or your local FSA office with any questions
Emily Horton: Director of Policy & Community Engagement
Tom Gordon: Soil & Water Conservation Program Coordinator
Renae Moran
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Tree Fruits
PO Box 179
Monmouth, ME 04259
(207) 933-2100
Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product, nor does it imply approval or disapproval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.
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