25/09/2025

Perfect ripeness: when is the best time to harvest our apples?

Harvesting an apple at just the right moment is key to ensuring it reaches the consumer with the best taste, texture, and color. The optimal point is when the fruit has a perfect balance between sweetness, acidity, firmness, and color.

Sugar level: determines the sweetness of the fruit
Acidity: balances the sugars and defines the final tasteç
Firmness: indicates the hardness of the flesh
Color: each variety has color parameters that indicate when to harvest

At Giropoma, we use very precise technical criteria to decide when to harvest each variety. The aim is to ensure that each apple has the size, taste, and appearance that provide the most value to the consumer.

Each variety has its own calendar

Not all apples ripen at the same rate. Varieties such as Gala reach their peak earlier, while others, such as Pink Lady® or Joya®, need more time on the tree to achieve their optimal taste and appearance. That is why the harvest calendar is flexible and adapted to each season. The goal is always the same: to harvest the apple at the exact moment when it expresses the best of its taste and appearance.

Gala: during the month of August, it is one of the first varieties to be harvested.
Golden: in mid-September, when it achieves its characteristic sweetness and greenish-yellow color.
Red Delicious: in September, when it reaches its intense red color.
Candine®: a late September variety, with a very fine balance between sweetness and freshness.
Granny Smith: in October, harvested at just the right point of refreshing acidity.
Fuji: also in October, with the perfect balance between sweetness and firmness.
Pink Lady®: one of the last to be harvested, in late October and November, when it achieves its characteristic pink color and intense flavor.
Joya®: harvested between November and December, it is the last of the season and stands out for its crunchy texture and intense flavor.

At Giropoma, we carefully select each apple, respecting its natural ripening time so that it reaches the market in peak condition.

CRONOLOGY

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› Perfect ripeness: when is the best time to harvest our apples?

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› Fuji, the queen of healthy snacks, salads and sauces

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› Giropoma reaffirms its commitment to innovation by attending the 40th Fruit Day organized by IRTA

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› Giropoma participates in the Fruit Attraction Fair, which this year focuses on technological innovation in the sector

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› Fuji, a crunchy and juicy autumn apple

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› Fresh, intense and versatile, that’s Joya®

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› Giropoma attends the 39th Fruit Day organized by the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology

› Golden, one of the most appreciated apples by consumers

› Fruit Logistica in Berlin, the reference fair of the fruit and vegetable sector and innovation where Giropoma has attended

› The Giropoma production area, the ideal environment for apple tree growing

› The forecasts are successfully achieved and Giropoma closes the harvest with an apple that stands out for its quality

› Giropoma attends the 23rd edition of POMATEC 2023, the Technical-Economic Apple Conference

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› Giropoma collaborates once again this year in the solidarity initiative Gala Pro Baix Ter 2023

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› Giropoma attends the Summer Fruit Day organized by the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology

› Giropoma collaborates one more year in the solidarity initiative Gala Pro Baix Ter that will take place on September 30th

› Giropoma is committed to the formation of professionals in the agri-food sector

› The irrigation system based on soil moisture sensors allows Giropoma to be more eficient

› PICKBEST project, determination of the optimal harvest time to satisfy the consumer and adapt to new preservation technologies

› POMELIFE project, renaturalization and promotion of biodiversity in apple tree plantations in Girona

› SCABKILL project, rationalization of the use of phytosanitary products in the control of apple scab

› Candine, the new apple that Giropoma has started to commercialize

› The organic production and marketing line, the Giropoma’s new commitment

› Giropoma attends the 38th Fruit Day organized by the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology

› Giropoma participates in Fruit Logistica in Berlin, the world’s leading trade fair for the international fresh produce business

› Giropoma starts planting new apple tree farms, which will last until March

› Giropoma’s new commitment to technology: mechanization of the tray packing line

› Giropoma participates in Pink Lady®’s annual technical meeting to share the experience of irrigation based on soil moisture sensors

› Giropoma’s 7 apple varieties: properties and benefits

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› Pink Lady®, one of the varieties produced by Giropoma, organizes the initiative ‘Adopt a tree’

› For the fourteenth consecutive year, Giropoma participates in Fruit Attraction, the main meeting point for fruit distribution

› Giropoma’s integrated production guarantees a sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture

› Giropoma collaborates one more year in the charity initiative Gala Pro Baix Ter 2022

› Giropoma boosts its digital presence through new social media channels

› La Gala PRO BAIX TER

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