Peel sap sampling/collection ended on July 13 for the Western NY & Finger Lakes Regions.  Average fruit size is too large to get reliable results/timing.

In early July we will begin a cooperative effort between Cornell extension, growers, consultants and storage operators to collect Honeycrisp fruitlets statewide to analyzed them for mineral nutrient concentrations.  This is part of a statewide extension effort funded by ARDP to evaluate Honeycrisp orchards throughout the state for determination of fruit storage potential and the risk of bitter pit in storage.

For the last several years we have evaluated peel SAP analysis to better predict bitter pit early in the growing season to allow better decisions on mitigation efforts during the rest of the season and storage potential. Peel SAP analysis was developed over the last 4 years, with the support from NY Apple Research and Development Program. In 2020 we evaluated 265 blocks in Western NY and this year are extending the project to growers anywhere in the state of NY.

We would like to encourage all Honeycrisp growers to start thinking about which Honeycrisp blocks (or ideally all blocks at your farm) you would like to collect fruit for peel SAP analysis this July 2021. We are specially inviting all packinghouses and their Honeycrisp fruit growers to submit peel samples to CCE this season.

If you participate, you will first need to sign up and pay for all samples using the registration on this page and then complete and return the fillable pdf with the necessary details for each sample.  You will then, at the announced date in July (probably early July in the Hudson Valley and early to Mid-July in WNY and the Champlain Valley), collect a 30-fruit sample from each of your Honeycrisp blocks, weight the sample to get the average fruit weight in grs (see note below), peel the fruits, freeze the peel sample, and then contact your local fruit extension specialist for submitting the sample.  We will then analyze the peel sap for nutrient concentrations and send you a report on nutrient ratios and recommendations for mitigation actions and storage recommendations by late July.  We believe that this new and early predictive tool will allow for more effective management of Honeycrisp fruit nutrition to reduce bitter pit incidence. 

There will be a minimal fee of $5 for each sample submitted but most of the analysis cost will be covered by the ARDP grant we were awarded.

Specific instructions on how to collect the fruit sample will be sent to participating growers a few days in advance of the collection date. In addition sample collection can be reviewed here:

However, to facilitate the collection of samples we ask that you now complete the pdf submission form attached in your recent Fruit Notes for your Honeycrisp peel samples, and visit the website to pay the $5/sample fee either by invoice or online. After the samples are collected the frozen sample(s) will be transported for peel SAP analysis at Cornell Nutrient Analysis Lab in Ithaca.

We hope all Honeycrisp growers in cooperation with their packing and marketing company, will submit a sample from each Honeycrisp block in NY for peel SAP analysis via CCE this season!

Note: It is very important that growers weight their 30-fruit sample BEFORE peeling the fruits this year & included this information on the peel sample bag. This new data will be used to correct and standardize the nutrient ratios by factoring in the effect of fruit size at sampling in July. We encourage all growers to use their digital kitchen balances (if working properly) or buy a cheap balance on Amazon at $17.99. Please check the following website:

https://www.amazon.com/GDEALER-Digital-Kitchen-0-001oz-Stainless/dp/B08YW3NCJT/?_encoding=UTF8&smid=A2QMH4UKDFN4Y&pf_rd_p=5d280014-ec5b-42f3-a3b6-117903cdd60e&pd_rd_wg=y45KJ&pf_rd_r=WWRPVEQWHE4F70SE2ASE&pd_rd_w=UIEK1&pd_rd_r=02da2642-9199-46bb-87d1-2c7db1ba9267&ref_=pd_gw_deals&th=1

2021 SAP Registration Form printable (PDF; 318KB)