-8- 





that I service regularly are demanding them, and they tell me that if I can't supply 

 them, they will get them somewhere else. Naturally, I don't want to lose them as 

 outlets for my apples later on so I am selling them immature Macs." 



There are several approaches to this problem but the one used in Michigan, and 

 a similar one for Delicious in the State of Washington, is as follows: 



The plan was presented to the Michigan State Horticultural Society, The Horticult 

 Societies of Southwestern Michigan Counties, the County Farm Bureaus and a group known 

 as The Michigan Fruit Sponsors. This resulted in a committee made up of •pple growers, 

 professional men and a storage specialist. The committee met about two weeks 

 before anyone would even think of picking Mcintosh, visited different orchards 

 and observed the fruit. Then a "tentative" harvest date was selected and announced 

 in order to head off early pickers and to get the trade thinking in terms of a 

 later date. Two weeks later the committee met again, visited the same orchards 

 and announced a "firm" date for the harvest of Mcintosh. This "firm" date was then 

 given publicity. After two years of this procedure the harvesting of immature Mclntost 

 has been reduced an estimated 85 to 90%. As one member of this committee wrote me, 

 "We have only public opinion and the scorn of his neighbors to keep growers from 

 cheating." 



In New york State, the fruit industry is giving consideration to the immature 

 apple problem. In Illinois, standards based on color have been established for 

 four grades of Golden Delicious. These have been adopted as official standards by 

 the Illinois Department of Agriculture. In addition to markings as to grade, 

 packages of Golden Delicious ma^ be stamped: "Meets Illinois Maturity Standards". 



At the Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Pomological Society held at Berlin, 

 Connecticut, December 3rd and 4th, 1958, the following resolution was adopted: 

 "Some states presently have what are called 'Maturity' laws for determining first 

 picking dates of certain varieties. The object of such laws is to keep premature 

 and green fruit off the market. To be of value in Connecticut, surrounding states 

 would need similar laws. It is therefore resolved that the Executive Committee of 

 the Connecticut Pomological Society determine the feasibility of studying the whole 

 question and make recommendations at our next^Annual Meeting." 



Some New Hampshire growers have given serious thought to the prevention of the 

 harvesting and marketing of immature Mcintosh. Some have considered having 

 legislation passed while others have proposed making it a part of the apple grading lav 



The Industry Committee of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association has the 

 problem of immature Mcintosh under consideration. Other New England States recognize 

 the problem but have taken no definite action as yet. 



The opinion has been expressed by some that over maturity is even more 

 harmful to the popularity of Mcintosh than immaturity. These problems are not 

 peculiar to any one state but should be of concern to all New England Mcintosh 

 growers and appear to merit concerted action by growers and professional workers 

 throughout New England in order that only apples in prime condition will be 

 offered to the consuming public. 



0. C. Roberts 



Contributor to This Issue From Supporting Fields 



E. H. Wheeler, Extension Entomologist 



