2026 Pennsylvania Tree Fruit Maturity Report - September 21

Introduction

Welcome to Penn State Extension's weekly apple maturity reports. Maturity metrics for key varieties will be tracked across the state throughout the 2026 season.

In this stressful year, with crops decimated by multiple springtime freeze events and hot, dry early summer weather, informed harvest timing recommendations are critical for fruit quality, particularly for apples in mid- to long-term storage. Balancing harvest decisions against sugar accumulation, color development, starch clearing, and firmness drop is difficult to perform in a normal year. These reports serve to provide insight and help inform management decisions.

Out of respect for our collaborators' need to squeeze out as much profit as possible from their available fruit, sampling of varieties may occur a week or more later than in previous years in order to reduce Penn State Extension's impact on their harvest. Please bear this in mind as recommendations this year may require quick action.

Further Effects of Freeze Damage

Pawpaws

The lede image for this week's report captures a small collection of pawpaw fruit on a standard picnic plate. These are some excellent specimens: large (about three inches in length and greater than an inch and a half in diameter), and not bruised or already overripe.

Pawpaws have a distinctive flavor described as "a cross between a banana, kiwi, and a mango", though descriptions vary widely from "tropical" to "kerosene". It is possible they are the fruit equivalent of cilantro where due to genetics some people love them while others gag. (In ad hoc surveys of people's first impressions it appears there is no middle ground.) They are certainly one of those fruits that appeals to their fans to such a degree it drives them to travel long distances to obtain fruit from their favorite market, tree, or patch.

In a normal year they are not an easy fruit to find, unless discovered in a market during the two to three weeks they are in a season, or when that riverside patch has somehow escaped the greed of the local trash pandas (raccoons).

At this point the reader may be wondering why pawpaws open a report dedicated to apple maturity assessments. The answer of course is the freeze–the same event that has driven so many discussions this year.

From conversations with pawpaw aficionados, it appears this year's crop is greatly reduced, just as it is for stone and pome fruit. For those who seek them out, competition for what crop remains in Pennsylvania will be fierce, if there are any still to be had.

Seedlessness (Take 2)

The Tree Fruit Maturity Report has observed seedlessness before.  Unlike those previously harvested varieties where some seeds had set, the ten specimens of Braeburn (Kumeu Crimson®) collected for analysis this week were found to be entirely seed-free (Figure 1).

Earlier this year at the Penn State research farms in Rock Springs, spot-checked Macoun appeared to be entirely seedless as well. The fruit was allowed to mature and more information on Macoun will be forthcoming when harvested in a few weeks' time. Additional details about Braeburn appear in the report below, along with a comparison against what was reported in 2024.

Adams County

Discussion

Rain moved in early this week, with a 70-80% chance of showers and thunderstorms today into tomorrow before clearing to sunny, warm conditions later in the week with highs reaching the mid-to-upper 80s. With several blocks already advanced in maturity, particularly those running high on starch and softer on firmness, this rain raises the risk of fruit cracking. Growers with mature blocks close to harvest should prioritize getting fruit off before or immediately after this rain event passes.

Varietal Analysis

New varieties this week include Braeburn (Kumeu Crimson®), Evercrisp®, and Granny Smith.

Fuji (Aztec® / DT2 cv.) (Figure 3) continued advancing. Mass grew from 230 g to 264 g, while firmness held steady, from 16.3 to 16.5 lb. Soluble solids rose from 11.0 to 12.0 °Bx and starch climbed further, from 3.1 to 4.5. This block was already flagged as ready last week, and with starch now well advanced and rain in the forecast, harvest should not be delayed further. This block could also face the risk of rain-induced splitting.

Nittany (Figure 4) mass grew from 250 g to 264 g while firmness dropped from 20.3 to 18.8 lb. Soluble solids ticked up slightly, from 10.8 to 11.2 °Bx, and starch held nearly flat, from 2.0 to 2.1. This block will likely be ready for harvests next week.

Braeburn (Kumeu Crimson®) (Figure 2) was measured for the first time this week at 245 g, with red color at 78% and a background of 1.2. Firmness came in high at 22.8 lb, good soluble solids at 13.7 °Bx, and starch at 3.2. This variety is mature and can be harvested this week.

This variety was last assessed for maturity in 2024, with fruit collected from the same block. At that time, there was nothing suspicious about its development. Yet statistically, the seedless fruit observed this week are well within the standard deviation of that tested in 2024 for all metrics across the board. The lack of seeds does not appear to have significantly impacted the overall development of the fruit.

Evercrisp® (Figure 2) was measured for the first time this week at 267 g, with red color at 40.0% and a background of 1.5. Firmness came in at 20.1 lb, soluble solids at 13.2 °Bx, and starch at 2.9. Evercrisp® is also one of the varieties that is extremely susceptible to cracking if they are mature. It is ready for harvest if headed to long-term CA storage.

Granny Smith (Figure 3) was measured for the first time this week at 289.2 g, with red color at 8.1% and a background of 2.9. Firmness came in at 18.1 lb, soluble solids at 11.7 °Bx, and starch at 2.3. Continue tracking as the season progresses.

Berks County

Varietal Analysis

Evercrisp® (Figure 5) mass grew from 186.5 g to 210.9 g while diameter held at 2.4". Red color advanced from 46.0% to 53.5%, and background eased from 3.6 to 2.8. Firmness eased slightly, from 22.4 to 21.1 lb, soluble solids climbed further, from 15.1 to 16.0 °Bx, and starch moved from 1.4 to 1.7. With starch still quite low despite the strong sugar reading, this block still has time before harvest, and there is room for the red blush color to continue developing. Continue tracking over the next few weeks.

Historical Data

The tables below contain the data collected in previous weeks of this year's reporting cycle. It is provided to provide information to growers who may be in regions where these varieties are still developing and to serve as a historical record of the 2026 growing season. Please review the previous weeks' reports for information on harvesting.

Adams County

Berks County

Acknowledgements

Starch index values were determined by referencing the Starch Index Scale published by Dr. Randy Beaudry and the MSU Apple Maturity Program at Michigan State University. The page referenced by the hyperlink provides access to a PDF copy of the document that can be freely downloaded.

Starch indexing for RubyMac® utilized the Cornell scale found in Predicting Harvest Date Windows for Apples by Blanpied and Silsby (1992).

Because of low crop set throughout our usual sampling regions, we are indebted to the following orchards for sacrificing fruit each week to make these reports possible:

• In Adams County, Penn State wishes to thank Hollabaugh Bros., Inc., in Biglerville, and Hector Mateos in particular for his assistance.
• In Berks County, Penn State wishes to thank Keim Orchard and Frecon Farms in Boyertown, and Ben Keim and Steve Frecon especially for their collaboration.

Their kindness and generosity deserves acknowledgement.

Penn State wishes to thank Rice Fruit Company for material support that helps make these reports possible.

Conclusions

Commercial fruit growers, please note: apple maturity conditions need to be monitored at a local level within one's own orchard. Before chemical products are applied, be sure to comply with current federal, state, and local usage regulations and examine the product label. Product information can be easily obtained online from CDMS.

This series of updates is made possible by a State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania (SHAP) Extension Grant (Pennsylvania Apple Maturity Program). The authors thank SHAP for the funding.