A Bumper Apple Crop in 2025: Why This Year’s Harvest Shines at Our High-Elevation Farm

At 4,400 feet in the Central Valley’s foothills of California, our family-run apple farm is gearing up for what promises to be a spectacular 2025 apple season. After last year’s challenges, we’re thrilled to share why this year’s crop is shaping up to be a bumper harvest, far surpassing our 2024. Backed by science and our hands-on experience, this blog dives into the weather patterns, pest management strategies, and unique conditions at high elevation that are setting the stage for an exceptional season. Plus, we’ll remind you of our nine apple varieties and their harvest timelines so you can plan your visit to our orchard!

Why 2025 Is a Bumper Crop Year

A bumper crop is characterized by an unusually high yield, and at our elevation, this depends heavily on favorable weather and effective pest control. Last year (2024), a late freeze devastated our apple crop, a common risk at high elevations. This year, while we experienced a brief late freeze, it spared our delicate apple blossoms. Let’s explore the science behind why this year’s conditions are ideal and how they contrast with 2024’s challenges.

Weather: The Make-or-Break Factor at 4,400 Feet

High-elevation apple farming, like ours at 4,400 feet, is uniquely sensitive to weather due to cooler temperatures, shorter growing seasons, and increased exposure to extreme events. Apples require a mild growing season with adequate chilling units (cold days below 45°F) to break dormancy, followed by warm, stable spring temperatures for flowering and fruit set. However, certain weather events can derail this delicate balance:

• Late Spring Freezes: At high elevations, late freezes are a primary threat. In 2024, a prolonged late freeze struck during the bloom period, damaging apple blossoms and reducing fruit set. Freezes below 28°F can kill developing buds, especially during the critical flowering stage, leading to significant crop loss. This year’s 2025 freeze was fleeting—lasting just ten minutes and not adhering to plant tissues—allowing blossoms to escape unscathed. The brief duration and lack of “sticking” frost meant temperatures didn’t drop low enough to cause cellular damage in the buds, preserving our potential yield.

• Excessive Rainfall and Humidity: Wet springs or summers can promote fungal diseases like apple scab, powdery mildew, and sooty blotch, which thrive in moist conditions and can reduce fruit quality. At our elevation, cooler temperatures often mean slower drying of foliage, increasing disease risk. In 2024, wet conditions following the freeze compounded our challenges, fostering disease pressure. In contrast, 2025 has seen more balanced precipitation, allowing for better air circulation and reduced fungal risk.

• Temperature Extremes and Drought: High-elevation orchards face cooler nights and hotter days, which can stress trees if not managed properly. Drought or irregular irrigation can lead to smaller fruit or bitter pit, a calcium deficiency disorder affecting varieties like Jonathan and Red Delicious. This year, consistent soil moisture and our irrigation practices have supported healthy fruit development, unlike 2024’s erratic weather patterns that stressed our trees post-freeze.

  
  

The 2025 growing season has benefited from a near-perfect balance: sufficient chilling units in winter, a mild spring with minimal frost damage, and stable summer temperatures. These conditions have allowed our trees to set a robust fruit load, setting the stage for a bumper crop.

Pest Management: Battling the Codling Moth

While weather sets the foundation, pests like the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) pose a significant threat to apple crops, especially at high elevations where pest pressure can vary. The codling moth is the most serious pest of apples in North America, with larvae tunneling into fruit, creating “wormy” apples that are unmarketable. At our farm, we’re currently assessing our crop to determine if spraying is necessary this season. Without proper control, codling moths can wipe out an entire crop, as their larvae cause two types of damage: shallow “stings” and deep entries that reach the fruit’s core, leaving frass-filled holes.

• Codling Moth Susceptibility by Variety: Research shows that apple varieties differ in their susceptibility to codling moth oviposition (egg-laying). Our varieties include McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Cortland, Empire, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Arkansas Black. Studies indicate that Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Red Delicious are among the most susceptible to codling moth due to their later maturity and softer fruit, while McIntosh is relatively less preferred. Early-maturing varieties like McIntosh escape some damage as they are harvested before the third generation of moths becomes active.

• Management Strategies: We employ an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, combining cultural practices, monitoring, and targeted sprays when needed. Pheromone traps help us track moth activity, allowing us to time sprays precisely during egg hatch (e.g., at 250 degree-days for the first generation). Cultural controls, like removing fallen fruit and pruning for better spray coverage, reduce pest reservoirs. Mating disruption, using pheromone dispensers to confuse male moths, is another tool we consider, especially in low-pressure years. If spraying is required, we rotate insecticides with different modes of action (e.g., carbaryl, spinosad, or acetamiprid) to prevent resistance, as codling moths have a history of developing tolerance.

  
  

This year, we’re optimistic that pest pressure may be lower due to favorable weather reducing moth populations. However, we’re vigilantly monitoring with traps and scouting weekly to assess whether sprays are necessary. Without control, codling moths could devastate our bumper crop, so we’re committed to protecting our apples while minimizing environmental impact.

Why 2025 Surpasses 2024

Last year’s prolonged late freeze in 2024 decimated our blossoms, leading to a poor fruit set across all varieties. Post-freeze humidity exacerbated fungal diseases like powdery mildew, which particularly affected our Cortland and Jonathan trees. Codling moth pressure was also high, as stressed trees were more vulnerable, and our reduced crop made pest management less cost-effective. In contrast, 2025’s brief freeze, stable temperatures, and balanced moisture have supported vigorous tree growth and fruit development. Our current crop assessment shows a high fruit set, with healthy, well-sized apples across all varieties, signaling a yield far exceeding 2024’s.

Our Apple Varieties and Harvest Timeline

Our farm grows nine apple varieties, each with distinct flavors and harvest windows, perfectly suited to our high-elevation climate. Here’s when you can expect to enjoy them in 2025, based on typical ripening times at 4,400 feet (note that exact dates may vary slightly due to weather):

• McIntosh (early September): Tart and juicy, great for fresh eating and sauces. Less susceptible to codling moth due to early ripening.

• Golden Delicious (mid to late September): Sweet and versatile, ideal for baking and cider. Highly susceptible to codling moth, requiring close monitoring.

• Jonathan (mid-September): Tangy and crisp, perfect for pies. Susceptible to fire blight and powdery mildew, but thriving this year.

• Cortland (mid to late September): Mildly tart, excellent for salads and baking. Prone to powdery mildew, but healthy in 2025’s conditions.

• Empire (late September): Sweet-tart, great for snacking. Moderately susceptible to pests, benefiting from our IPM approach.

• Mutsu (Crispin) (early to mid-October): Crisp and sweet, ideal for fresh eating. Less susceptible to fire blight but requires pollination from other varieties.

• Red Delicious (early to mid-October): Sweet and iconic, best fresh. Highly susceptible to codling moth and bitter pit.

• Fuji (mid to late October): Sweet and crunchy, excellent for storage. Preferred by codling moths, needing vigilant pest control.

• Arkansas Black (late October to early November): Tart and firm, perfect for cider and long storage. Late ripening increases third-generation moth risk.

  
  

Join Us for the 2025 Harvest!

Our 2025 bumper crop is a testament to the resilience of our trees and the careful balance of nature at 4,400 feet. The brief late freeze, favorable weather, and proactive pest management have set the stage for an abundant harvest, far surpassing last year’s challenges. We invite you to visit our farm to taste the fruits of this exceptional season during our walking tours, orchard picnics, or a cozy stay in our barn (check our previous blog posts for details). Keep an eye on our website and sign up for email updates to stay informed about harvest events and apple availability. Come celebrate the magic of apple season with us in the cool, crisp mountains!

With love from the orchard,

The Crew