General comments 082709 apple harvest: all these apples are nearing the end of their harvest window, although Ginger Gold has another 7-10 days. Maturity is moving along rapidly. Cooler weather will promote color development. Keep in mind there can be significant variability within and between orchards. Taste is one of the best indicators of apple maturity. Next week the McIntosh harvest will start. JC
| Cultivar | date | pre-harvest drop | fruit diameter inches | color % red | firmness lbs | soluble solids | starch index | comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sansa | 08/27/2009 | nil | 2.8 | 50 | 12.3 | 12.6 | 6 (4-8) | perfect, last chance to pick |
| Ginger Gold | 08/27/2009 | none | 3.3 | NA | 18 | 12.4 | 3 | 20% watercore; ready to go |
| Akane | 08/27/2009 | few | 3.1 | 70 | 15.5 | 12 | 7.1 | better than last time, nice size for Akane, some watercore, definitely ready to harvest |
| Zestar! | 08/27/2009 | few | 3.3 | 55 | 13 | 13 | 6.5 (6-7) | on it's way out, should be picked by now, but still acceptable |