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Reports from throughout New England indicate the 2000 harvest is in the final stretch. All but a handful of Macs are left to be picked in Massachusetts (most likely ReTain treated), however, the Mac harvest in Maine, Vermont, and New York (Champlain Valley) is still going strong. We expect even there the Mac harvest will be nearly complete by the end of the week. Overall, fruit condition is still excellent and maturity has really put on the brakes. The Mac crop is picking out a little lighter than expected, so the Mac market ought to be strong during the upcoming months.
Harvest of Cortland, Macoun, Empire, and Delicious are still in full swing. Size and quality are generally excellent, however, some growers have been waiting for better color on Cortland. Using the on-line calculator for determining scald potential of Delicious apples on the UMass Fruit Advisor WWW page, and data from Belchertown (harvest date = October 3, number nights less than 50 F. = 21, average starch index = 3.5), a rate of at least 500 ppm. DPA is still recommended for fruit going into storage when harvested this week. By the weekend, the need for DPA treatment will be near zero for harvested fruit.
This will be the last Healthy Fruit Maturity Report for the 2000 season. We hope it’s helped you stay on top of the 2000 harvest and look forward to bringing you Healthy Fruit in 2001. In the meantime if you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact any UMass Fruit Team member. And don’t forget to visit the UMass Fruit Advisor on the web to keep informed about upcoming events, programs, and new publications during the winter meeting season.Dr. Greene’s Harvest Report for October 3, 2000
Weather favorable for red color development and timely harvest of apples continues. Starch iodine indices for Cortland, Empire, Macoun, on October 3 were 4.4, 4.9, and 5.4, respectively. This is near what one would normally expect for this date. Fruit are in good condition for regular air storage. Starch iodine figures for Delicious range between 3 and 3.4. Fruit should be ready to harvest for CA storage and long term regular air storage. Starch iodine figures for Golden Delicious were above 6 and firmness running less than 15 pounds on appropriately cropped trees at the Horticultural Research Center in Belchertown. These maturity markers indicate that Golden Delicious may be ready to harvest well in advance of the historical normal harvest date. Watch carefully for the development of drop on Golden Delicious. The early signs of ripening on Golden Delicious, previously noted for McIntosh, indicate that some varieties are still responding differently to this summer’s weather. It is not possible to predict which ones these are. To catch early ripening, growers should check starch, firmness, drop, and eating quality of varieties that have not yet been harvested.
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Deerfield |
Shelburne |
Hawley |
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Delicious 3.7 |
Redcort (ReTain) 2.8 |
Honeycrisp 4.3 |
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Cortland 4.3 |
Delicious 2.2 |
Macoun 3.8 |
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Liberty 4.7 |
Empire 3.9 |
Empire 4.2 |
The Massachusetts Pesticide Bureau will conduct its Third Annual Waste Pesticide Collection Program in November. The annual collection program is a legal, low cost, opportunity for pesticide users to dispose of unused, unwanted, banned and canceled pesticides. The costs for disposal will be $9 per gallon and $1.35 per pound.
The total amount of pesticides removed to date from the Massachusetts environment as a direct result of the Bureau’s annual collection efforts is roughly 50,000 lbs. Products collected over the past two years at various sites statewide and directly from individuals include DDT, chlordane, lead arsenate and 2,4,5,-T.
This year, once again, Safety-Kleen will be the licensed hazardous waste hauler collecting the waste pesticides. The collection events will occur at Massachusetts Highway Department facilities in the following locations:
NORTHAMPTON, Wednesday, November 8th 2000
MassHighway Depot, Locust Street, Rte 9. (Take I-91 to Exit 18. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp to Route 5N. At the first set of lights turn left on to Route 9 West for 1.5 miles. Site is on the right after the City of Northampton facility)
MILLBURY, Thursday, November 9th 2000
MassHighway Depot, Rte 146. (On Route 146 South. 1.7 miles South of Route 20 across from John Deere dealer)
CONCORD, Friday, November 10th 2000
MassHighway Depot. (Follow Route 2 to the Concord rotary. The facility is located on the Westbound side of Route 2, across from MCI Concord state prison )
MIDDLEBORO, Tuesday, November 14th 2000
MassHighway Depot, Route 28. (From Route 495, take the exit for Route 44. Eastbound to the Middleboro rotary. Take Route 28 South for a couple of miles. The depot is located after the State Police barracks on the right)
“Pesticide Bureau Event” signs will be posted outside to indicate the locations.
In order to participate you must preregister with Safety-Kleen. To preregister you must obtain a preregistration from the Pesticide Collection Program web site at . Alternatively you can call the Pesticide Bureau at 617-626-1773.
Preregistration will allow Safety-Kleen to assign you a time to show up at the site. Representatives will also inform you of the amount of money you will be charged. Please pay on the day of the collection event using a cashier’s check.
Applicators are responsible for making sure that their pesticides are packaged correctly for transportation. To obtain information on the safe packaging and transportation of pesticides, go to the Pesticide Collection Program web site at .
The November 2000 event is expected to be the final Pesticide Bureau sponsored collection event for waste pesticides for some time.
Pesticide applicators can now dispose of unwanted pesticides as Universal Waste for a fee at the Minuteman Hazardous Product Facility in Lexington from 9am through 2pm on the following dates: August 26, September 30, October 28, November 18.
Applicators are responsible for making sure that their pesticides are packaged correctly for transportation. Note that prices are likely to be different to those in the statewide pesticide collection program. Contact Brenda Leonardo of Safety-Kleen for instructions and prices at 978-683-1002 x-5410.
Directions to Minuteman Hazardous Product Facility: From Route 128 take Exit 31 (Route 4/225 heading towards Bedford). At first light take a right, via jug handle, onto Hartwell Ave. The site is ¼ mile on left just after the bike path at the composting facility.
Leicester Recycling Center to Accept Triple Rinsed Pesticide Containers Pesticide users now have an opportunity to recycle triple rinsed empty, plastic pesticide containers at Leicester Recycling Center. Containers must be triple rinsed or pressure rinsed and free of any visual chemical residue, wet or dry. Containers must also be dry and free of any rinse waters when brought in. All caps, label booklets and plastic sleeves should be removed.
WHEN: The first, third and fifth Saturday of each month from 8am to 1pm. The center operates year round. Call 508- 892- 3121 for any special arrangements.
DIRECTIONS:
From Leicester Center: At Leicester center (intersection of Route 56 and Route 9) go east on Route 9 for approximately ½½ mile. Before the United Gas Station, turn onto Mannville Street and follow for ¾ mile to the Recycling Center on your left.
From the Mass Turnpike: Take the Sturbridge Exit. Follow Route 20 to Route 49 North. Take Route 9 East through Leicester Center (see above).
From the North: Take Interstate 190 to 290 to Route 20 West. Follow Route 20 to Route 49 North. Take Route 9 East through Leicester Center (see above) or Route 56 South to Mannville Street. Recycling Center will be on the right
From the South: Take Route 140 or Route 122 or Route12 North to Route 20. Take Route 20 to Route 56 North. Follow Route 56 to Route 9 at Leicester Center (see above).
Several dealers statewide are already accepting triple rinsed pesticide containers from their customers including Crop Production Services in Deerfield and Marlborough, Decran Ag Supplies in Rochester and R.A.S.P. Inc in Carver. This program provides pesticide users with a convenient free, environmentally friendly service to recycle empty, triple rinsed plastic agricultural containers. The plastic will be removed from the solid waste stream and recycled into valuable end uses such as pesticide containers, fuel, industrial pallets, construction site mats, speed bumps, fence posts, hazardous waste drums, and commercial truck/ manure spreader deck boards.
Check with your dealer to see if they are participating. For more information access the Pesticide Bureau web site at . If you have any comments or questions, contact Gerard Kennedy at the Massachusetts Pesticide Bureau.email: Gerard.Kennedy@state.ma.us.
Healthy Fruit is written by Dan Cooley, Ron Prokopy, Jon Clements, Starker Wright, Arthur Tuttle, Wes Autio, Bill Coli, and Duane Greene except where other contributors are noted. Publication is funded in part by the UMass Extension Agroecology Program, grower subscriptions, and the University of Massachusetts IPM Program. A text version can be e-mailed to you if you contact Doreen York. Please cite this source if reprinting information.
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