Maturity of Cripps Pink

March 2008 | Future Orchards® presentation on Cripps Pink maturity

Cripps Pink is a late-season cultivar where harvest timing has major consequences for colour, firmness, flavour development and storage life. This March 2008 Future Orchards® presentation focuses on the maturity indicators used to decide when the crop is ready for its intended market.

Harvest maturity cannot be judged from skin colour alone. Growers need to consider a combination of fruit attributes and the intended storage or marketing period. Picking too early can compromise eating quality, while delaying harvest increases the risk of softer fruit and reduced storage potential.

The resource supports a measured approach based on representative sampling and repeated assessments as harvest approaches. Maturity information can then be combined with colour, fruit size, weather and market priorities when sequencing blocks and picks.

For Cripps Pink growers, the practical lesson is to treat harvest maturity as a management decision that links orchard performance with post-harvest outcomes and customer expectations.