Fruit Crops Edition

Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting tree fruit and small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
 
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September 2, 2025 and

Late August and Early September Peach Varieties – New and Standard

Cooler temperatures and sunny days during the last 10 days have been ideal for full color and flavor development of late August and Early September peach varieties. Descriptions of fruit and tree characteristics, challenges, and laboratory evaluations of fruit physical and chemical properties (Table 1) of important varieties in this harvest window are described below. Understanding these characteristics is essential for selecting new varieties or replacing existing ones. Note that these varieties were evaluated in southern New Jersey; as a result, the harvest dates could be a few days later for the Central and Northern New Jersey orchards.

SelenaTM is a new yellow, melting flesh peach from the Rutgers Fruit Breeding program. It has an excellent firmness, slightly fibrous flesh around the pit, and ripens during and between ‘Jersey queen’ and ‘Encore’. Very large fruited with an attractive 50-80% mottled red and yellow background. The fruit hangs well on the tree and has an excellent balance of sweet and acidic flavor. This variety exhibits a low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Most importantly, like Gloria, the bloom is delayed and extended, resulting in trees always bearing a crop even during the hard frost years. Fruit maintains firmness after achieving commercial maturity and doesn’t drop fruit, like Encore and Jersey Queen.

TianaTM is a new yellow freestone melting flesh peach, ripening between ‘Cresthaven’ and ‘Encore’, and overlaps with Encore and Selena. It has large fruit with an excellent balance of acidity and high sweetness.  Skin is attractive, 50-75% mottled red-on-yellow background.  This productive variety exhibits low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Like Gloria, the bloom is delayed and extended, resulting in trees always bearing a crop even during the hard frost years. Fruit maintains its firmness on the tree after achieving commercial maturity. It is a good candidate for replacing Encore.

Jerseyqueen is a very large, oblong to ovate, 55-65% scarlet red over a yellow ground color; yellow-fleshed, freestone peach, ripening August 25-28, approximately 31 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with a sweet and mildly tangy flavor. The tree is very vigorous and moderately productive. Challenges: It has mild to medium susceptibility to bacterial spot. The variety is not fully productive on many peach sites and tends to produce doubles.

Flamin Fury® PF#27 is an attractive, large to very large, globose to ovate, 60-70% crimson red over a greenish yellow ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach, ripening August 25-28, approximately 31 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm with very good flavor. Challenges: It has a medium susceptibility to bacterial spot.

Flamin Fury® PF 28-007 is a large to very large, globose to ovate, 50-80% dark crimson red over greenish yellow ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone ripening August 27-31, approximately 34 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm with a sweet and tangy flavor, with some red around the pit. The tree is vigorous and productive with medium leaf susceptibility to bacterial spot. This is an attractive late-season variety with great size and color. Fruit hangs well and has more color than Cresthaven.

Flameprince is a medium-large, firm, attractive 50-70% crimson red over a yellow ground color, yellow/white-fleshed, freestone peach ripening September 2-5, approximately 38 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm, sweet, and mildly tangy. The tree is moderately vigorous and productive with medium susceptibility to bacterial spot. Challenge: Note: The fruit color develops early; hence, picking by size is recommended. Three to four pickings may be required to achieve a uniform crop.

AutumnstarTM is a large, globose to slightly ovate, 60-80% crimson red over a yellowish green ground color, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach ripening September 4-7, approximately 41 days after Redhaven. The fruit is attractive for a late-season variety. Fruit size is medium-large.  The flesh is firm with a good balance of sweet and acidic flavor. The tree is vigorous and productive with low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Challenge: Some tree survival problems have been noted. The performance of this variety has varied from year to year. In some years, it’s hard to size to medium-large size.

Flamin Fury PF 36 is a globose, firm, yellow-fleshed free stone peach ripening during the first week of September—one of the best late-season peach varieties. Fruit is large to very large, sweet, mildly tangy, and mostly uniform in size. The tree is vigorous and highly productive with no bacterial spot.

Augustprince is a globose to slightly ovate, 60-90% crimson red over a yellowish red ground color, yellow-fleshed freestone peach ripening August 31 to September 3 or 37 days after Redhaven. The flesh is firm to very firm, melting, stringy, with a very good, slightly acidic flavor. The tree is vigorous, productive, and has low susceptibility to bacterial spot. This sister variety ripens close to Flame Prince but consistently has better size and firmness.

Some of the excellent, yellow-fleshed varieties with few serious challenges

Encore is a firm fleshed variety with decent tolerance to bacterial spot. The tree is productive and cold-hardy, and the fruit has decent eating quality. However, it has a drop tendency. Fruit blush development has been unsatisfactory in some years. Fayette: High susceptibility to bacterial spot. A popular variety. Laurol is firm-fleshed, peach with a very sweet and tangy flavor. It has a high susceptibility to bacterial spots. It can get tiny splits at the stem end, which don’t always open, but water can get in, resulting in black gum around the pit.

White-fleshed Peach

August Rose is an attractive late-season white-fleshed peach harvested 24 days after Redhaven and a few days after the Sugar Giant. It has a longer harvest window because commercially mature fruit retains firmness on the tree. The freestone fruit is very firm and has a delicious flavor and melting texture. 60-90% medium red on cream and sizes 2 ¾ – 3 inches in diameter, somewhat nonuniform in size. It is a very sweet, low-acid fruit that hangs well on the tree after commercial maturity. This tree is tolerant of bacterial leaf spot and constriction canker. It can fill the gap between Sugar Giant and Snow Giant.

Other white-fleshed peaches have serious challenges.

Snow King is challenging to grow in New Jersey due to its high susceptibility to bacterial spots and brown rot. Snowfire has a high susceptibility to bacterial spot. Snowfire has the same problems as Snow King – low productivity and high susceptibility to bacterial spot and brown rot. It ripens earlier than Snow King and has less red skin color. Opale. It is also very susceptible to brown rot. Benedict: The flavor is subacid and very good. The tree is upright, spreading, vigorous, moderately productive, and has medium to high susceptibility to bacterial spots. This peach ripens just after Sugar Giant but is not as attractive.

Articles on Previous Season Peach and Nectarine Varieties:

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
September 2, 2025

Updates from EPA for Pesticide Users on How to Navigate Mitigation Measures to Protect Endangered Species

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of an online tool to help farmers and applicators implement mitigation measures to protect endangered species from pesticides. The mitigation measures were established to reduce exposure from pesticides for nontarget organisms as listed under the Endangered Species Act. Levels of mitigation that are required on pesticide labels can include mitigations for spray drift, runoff, and buffer zones. In April 2025, EPA released a mitigation menu website that includes information on these measures and how to calculate if a pesticide user has incorporated the number of “points” associated with the mitigation measures required by the pesticide labelling. It is the responsibility of the pesticide user to ensure that all pesticide labelling requirements are met, and requirements will vary among labels and products used.

The new tool released by EPA, the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM) is a mobile application that helps farmers and pesticide users use the EPA’s mitigation menu and stay compliant when applying pesticides for agricultural crop uses. The tool will combine relevant information and calculations needed to help farmers determine whether the necessary level of mitigation has been met before applying a pesticide.

If you are interested in learning more about the mitigation menu and available tools, the EPA will be hosting a public webinar on September 16th at 2 PM Eastern Time. Register here for the webinar.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
August 29, 2025

Traceability Rule (Section 204) in the Food Safety Modernization Act Delayed

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed extending the deadline for the traceability rule (Section 204) under the Food Safety Modernization Act until July 2028.  The rule was to go into effect in 2026, but FDA is allowing more time for the industry to comply based on the complexity of the rule.  The extension only relates to implementation.  There are no proposed changes to the rule itself.   Growers should take this time to discuss with their buyers how traceability will be implemented.  This is a very involved rule so do not wait until the last minute to start developing your system which meets all the provisions.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
August 29, 2025 , , and

Agricultural Water Assessment Questionnaires

Anna Loewald, Research Specialist with the Northeast Center for the Advancement of Food Safety (NECAFS), in collaboration with an advisory group of regional regulatory and educational partners, has developed an Agricultural Water Assessment Questionnaire.  This tool guides growers through a structured series of questions- helping to simplify the assessment process and highlight risk areas.
➡️ They are available for download at the Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse: Agricultural Water Assessment Questionnaire.

Who Must Comply

Under the Produce Safety Rule (PSR), the new pre-harvest water rule requires many fresh fruit and vegetable growers to perform an agricultural water assessment. Compliance is phased in based on farm size (measured by sales):

  • Over $500,000 in annual sales → Rule in effect now
  • $250,000 – $500,000 → Rule takes effect in 2026
  • $25,000 – $250,000 → Rule takes effect in 2027

When the Assessment Must Be Done

  • At the beginning of each growing season
  • Anytime there are major changes to the water system or source (e.g., switching from well to pond, damage from flooding, new distribution lines, etc.)

What the Assessment Must Include

The assessment must:

  • Be written, dated, and signed by the grower or responsible party.
  • Address multiple factors, such as:
    • Water source and distribution system
    • Protection against contamination
    • Crop type and surface characteristics.
    • Method and timing of water application
    • Environmental conditions (weather damage, flooding, etc.)
    • Water test results (used as supporting evidence, not the sole factor)

Takeaway: The agricultural water assessment is not optional for covered farms. It is a documented process that must be updated regularly and reflect real-world changes in the water system. Using tools like the NECAFS questionnaire can make this process more consistent and straightforward.

When evaluating the safety of agricultural water, multiple factors must be considered together. Testing is only one component; a holistic risk assessment includes the following:

  1. Location & Nature of the Water Source
  • Ground water (e.g., wells) – typically lower risk if properly constructed and maintained.
  • Surface water (ponds, rivers, streams) – higher risk due to potential animal access and runoff.
  • Mixed sources – may require additional protective practices.
  1. Water Distribution System
  • Underground mains or buried pipe – generally more protected.
  • Above-ground pipe, lay flat, or open canals – increased potential for contamination.
  • Storage tanks or reservoirs – evaluate for exposure to animals, debris, or microbial buildup.
  1. Protection from Contamination
  • Animal intrusion (wildlife, livestock, domestic animals).
  • Manure applications and proximity to fields.
  • Cross-connections with untreated or wastewater.
  1. Agricultural Water Practices
  • Methods of application: overhead irrigation, drip, flood, etc.
  • Timing: interval between last irrigation and harvest (shorter intervals = higher risk).
  1. Crop Characteristics
  • Surface type:
    • Smooth/waxy (e.g., cabbage, tomatoes) → less microbial adhesion.
    • Netted/rough (e.g., cantaloupe, leafy greens) → higher risk.
  • Growth habit: crops close to the soil are at greater risk of contamination.
  1. Environmental Conditions
  • Weather damage: frost cracks, hail wounds, sandblasting.
  • Soil splash during rain/irrigation.
  • Flood events – significant contamination risk.
  1. Other Considerations
  • Water testing: periodic microbial testing provides valuable data but must be considered alongside the full risk profile.
  • Historical issues: prior contamination events, known sources of runoff, or nearby land uses (e.g., livestock, septic systems).

 Exemptions from the Agricultural Water Assessment Requirement

Not all farms are required to complete a pre-harvest water assessment under the Produce Safety Rule. If the operation meets any one of the following conditions, the assessment is not required:

  • No untreated surface water is applied to covered produce.
  • Untreated groundwater is used, and it is tested following the harvest/post-harvest water protocol:
    • Four samples collected in the first year, tested for generic coli.
    • If all results are compliant (no generic coli detected), only one sample per year is required in subsequent years.
  • The public water system is the source (documentation required).
  • Water is treated and monitored to ensure it remains of safe and adequate sanitary quality for its intended use.

Takeaway: Farms using treated water, municipal water, or groundwater verified with ongoing testing do not have to perform a full agricultural water assessment.

Please take the opportunity to review the questionnaires and use them to meet the requirements for the pre-harvest water assessment!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
August 29, 2025 , , and

Food Safety Training Season Starting

Fall and winter are the prime time for food safety training.  We will be starting in October with basic hands-on training for anyone starting to farm or wanting a basic refresher.  That is followed by a two day online Produce Rule Training.  This training is required for most fresh fruit and vegetable growers before the New Jersey Department of Agriculture inspects the operation.  See the details below on dates and how to register.

 October

Hands-on Produce Safety Workshop: Wednesday, October 8 from 10 am-2 pm EST.

This hands-on produce safety class in Cream Ridge, NJ is for farm owners, farm employees, farm managers, and those thinking about starting a farm. The class is focused on the various actions that can be part of a strong produce safety plan whether you have one or are just getting started. These activities include building a DIY hand-washing station, assessing wildlife risks in the field and developing an action plan, an interactive cleaning and sanitizing demonstration, and more.

December

Two-day online Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training: December 9 – 10.

You’ll need to attend both days to receive a certificate, and you must always have a camera on during the training according to the Produce Safety Alliance Online Training Policies.

The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

For more information on any of these classes or to sign up go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety (onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu)

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
August 28, 2025 , and

Fruit IPM Report August 26 2025

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Overall, OFM trap captures have been low and treatments should be over for the third generation flight statewide. Additional treatments should be made if trap captures are over 6 moths per trap.

Scale Insects: Scale crawler emergence is past peak and declining. White Peach scale has a third generation in September and San Jose scale may have a third generation in October. Options at this point include Group 4A products labelled for scale including Assail, and the bioinsecticide Venerate. Venerate has a 0-day PHI, making it useful for blocks near or at harvest (Figure 1).

Figure 1. San Jose scale on apple.

Lesser Peachtree Borer (LPTB) and Peachtree Borer (PTB): Trap counts for borers have been high at several farms this season throughout the state (Figure 2). Where mating disruption is not being used, trunk sprays using pyrethroids can be applied early to mid-September followed by an additional application in mid to late September. Since this would be a labor intensive practice it would be most efficient to give priority to younger and most productive orchards. See the NJ Tree Fruit Production for effective materials and rates.

Figure 2. Lesser peachtree borer adult.

Apples and Pears:

Summer Diseases: Disease control is over for Early season apple varieties. Mid to late season varieties will need further applications on a two-week schedule until mid-September for sooty blotch and fly speck. See the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB): Brown Marmorated Stink bug and native stinkbug populations have been low this season, although we have seen an increase in trap captures at some farms. If stinkbugs are a concern for your orchard, see the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials.

Codling Moth (CM): Most orchards have very low CM pressure. Additional treatments should be made if trap captures are over 5 moths/trap.

Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.

Pest Event or Growth Stage Approximate Date 2025 Observed Date
 Bud Swell (Redhaven/PF-17)  March 23 +/- 15 Days March 30
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious March 31 +/- 13 Days March 30
Pink Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) April 4 +/- 15 Days April 1
Tight Cluster Red Delicious April 9 +/- 13 Days April 5
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) April 9 +/- 14 Days April 10
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) April 14 +/- 12 Days April 16
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) April 22 +/- 11 Days April 25
Petal Fall (Redhaven) April 22 +/- 10 Days April 19
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) April 27 +/- 13 Days May 2
Shuck Split (Redhaven) April 30 +/- 11 Days April 26
Pit Hardening June 15 +/- 9 Days June 15

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties

Week Ending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/5/2025 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4/12/2025 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
4/21/2025 0 0 0 0 36 0 1 0 0 0
4/27/2025 25 0 0 0 24 0 5 0 1 0
5/2/2025 517 0 4 0 12 0 6 0 13 0
5/9/2025 159 4 10 0 3 16 5 4 46 0
5/16/2025 91 11 6 0 1 36 2 14 69 0
5/23/2025 299 21 3 0 1 23 1 26 23 0
5/30/2025 399 14 2 0 0 41 1 11 10 3
6/6/2025 733 13 1 0 0 36 2 12 29 1
6/13/2025 684 19 2 1 0 81 2 17 22 8
6/20/2025 724 24 2 0.5 1 60 1 23 19 12
6/27/2025 932 5 1 0.8 1 40 0 5 24 14
7/4/2025 643 0 0 0.75 1 17 0 0 6 16
7/11/2025 194 0 0 0.5 0 18 8 0 24 15
7/18/2025 190 0 0 1 0 16 2 1 5 12
7/25/2025 222 2 1 1.6 0 16 1 2 12 21
8/1/2025 450 1 0 2 1 24 2 1 21 18
8/8/2025 523 2 1 2 0 35 5 2 30 19
8/15/2025 595 1 0 2 0 37 1 2 32 15
8/22/2025 125 5 0 3.75 1 49 4 4 40 14

Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties

Week Ending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB AMBROSIA BEETLE
4/5/2025 387 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4/21/2025 435 0 0 0 0 0 1.3 0 0 0 0
4/27/2025 26 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 72
5/2/2025 86 0 0.33 0 72.5 0 47.2 0 0 0 136
5/9/2025 56 0 5.3 0 58.8 0 22.9 0 0 0 145
5/16/2025 13.75 2.6 7.3 0 4 0 5 0 0 0 50.5
5/23/2025 4.8 10.3 10.5 0 0.6 31.25 4.2 0 14.6 1 22.2
5/30/2025 2.2 4.8 1.8 0 0 12.4 9.6 0 9.6 1.9 22.1
6/6/2025 3 4.83 2.8 0.25 0 20 4.1 0 21.2 1.8 40.3
6/13/2025 65 20 11.4 0.6 0 12.3 4 0 10.5 1.5 59.2
6/20/2025 26 26 8 0.75 1 13 4.5 0 11 0.75 52
6/27/2025 145 19 6 1.3 6 35 5.4 0 16 1.6 38
7/4/2025 212 6 3 0.6 12.5 40 2 0 8.4 1.1 27
7/11/2025 125 2.5 0.5 0.14 5 41 3 0 20 4.5 48
7/18/2025 64 0.5 0.4 0.16 2 42 2 0 8.4 1.9 64
7/25/2025 110.5 0.4 2.3 0.24 7.5 44 4 0 6.8 12.2 69
8/1/2025 132 0.5 2.8 0.4 5.7 42.5 2.9 0 8 6.2 71.5
8/8/2025 157 1.9 0.6 0.41 6 27.8 8.3 0 10.8 5.5 78
8/15/2025 36.8 2 2.6 0.3 2.9 25.8 2 0 11.6 4.8 24
8/22/2025 25 6 1.4 0.05 1.6 40.4 7 0 18 4.8 67.6

Grape

Figure 3. Sour rot of grapes.

Disease management continues to focus on downy and powdery mildew and also bunch rots (Figure 3).

Downy mildew has been particularly prevalent this season in vineyards throughout the state. Refer to the NJ Commercial Grape Production Guide for information on control.

Figure 4. Spotted lanternfly on grapevine.

Grape Berry Moth: The timing for the third generation is past. In some hot summers a fourth generation may occur, however no further treatments should be needed, especially where insecticides are being applied for Spotted lanternfly and Spotted-wing drosophila.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF): SLF adults are now appearing in vineyards in low numbers mostly on vineyard edges (Figure 4). As we move into September adult migration will increase and at that point growers should apply materials with long residual efficacy. More information on biology and control can be found from Penn State.

 

Blueberry

As we look to postharvest management in blueberries, the focus is on sharp-nosed leafhopper, scales, black shadow, and fall weed management. Sharp-nosed leafhopper and scale crawler numbers remain low but will continue to be monitored into September.

For weekly reports on blueberry pests and recommendations read the Rutgers Blueberry Bulletin.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Wine Grape