Estimated Collection Timing: July 7-10 for Geneva and inland sites, July 11-14 for lake sites

In early July we will begin for the third consecutive time a cooperative effort between Cornell extension, growers, consultants, and storage operators to collect Honeycrisp fruitlets statewide to analyze 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 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 is being offered statewide for a 3rd year, with the support from NY Apple Research and Development Program. In the last two seasons we evaluated almost 500 blocks across New York State and continue offering this opportunity to growers this year.

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. 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 follow the link provided in your registration confirmation email to complete the Qualtrics form with the necessary details for each sample.  Then, at the announced date in July by your local CCE specialist, collect a 30-fruit sample from each of your Honeycrisp blocks, weigh the sample to get the average fruit weight in grams (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. 

So far, the best estimates for the fruitlet collection by growers in WNY are (1) July 7-10 for Geneva and inland sites, (2) July 11-14 for lake sites, but again we highly recommend weighing a small (~10) fruit sample first.

Other important dates to remember for the statewide Honeycrisp project funded by ARDP:

• Peel sap analysis will be conducted at a lab in Ithaca the week of July 17.

• Samples (frozen peels) submitted after July 17 won't be processed.

Due to high variability on fruit weight this season, we suggest to growers that they sample 10 fruits from a block that they are planning to submit for peel sap analysis and get the average weight. If that average is in the 55 to 65 gram/fruit range, collect the other 20 fruit and peel/freeze. If it's below, wait a day or two and repeat.  

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

Sample collection can be reviewed here:  https://youtu.be/hYCqE0FwANI

To facilitate the collection of samples we ask that you now complete the Register for the number of blocks you will be testing and complete the Qualtrics Form linked in your registration confirmation email. 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 weigh their 30-fruit sample BEFORE peeling the fruits this year & include this information on the peel sample bag. This 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 $9.99. Please check the following website:

https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen...

Or $20:

https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-LZPGITGD-Digital-Function-Stainless/dp/B07DK3VF78/ref=asc_df_B07DK3VF78/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309781210043&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8417791392634464249&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005565&hvtargid=pla-568697952894&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60510365926&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309781210043&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8417791392634464249&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005565&hvtargid=pla-568697952894