What’s Up? Tender fruit and Grape Update

By Kathryn Carter, Fruit Specialist (Tender fruit and Grape) OMAFA

Weather

The challenging weather continues this season, with reports of hail, flooding, and wind damage have been received from in some areas of Ontario. Currently there doesn’t appear to be any significant injury in the tender fruit and grape growing regions.

Temperatures have remained warm this week, creating additional challenges for growers. Warm temperatures in the fall can accelerate pear ripening and place additional stress on trees, increasing the risk of premature fruit drop. Fruit harvested under hot conditions contains more heat and may require additional time to cool. High temperatures can also reduce colour development and may reduce fruit storage potential and shelf life.

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Tender fruit

The tender fruit season is wrapping up quickly.

Peach/Nectarine: Harvest is nearing completion, with growers picking late-season cultivars such as Messina and PF27.

Pear: Early varieties such as Bartlett have been harvested. Harvest is ongoing for Bounty and Happi pears.

Cherry: Harvest is complete; however, growers should continue to manage cherry leaf spot, which has been a concern in some orchards this season.

Table Grapes: Harvest is ongoing. Harvest of Sovereign Coronation is wrapping up, while harvest of Jupiter and other varieties is beginning.

Blue Plums: Harvest is winding down

Happi Pear near harvest in Blenheim, September 3, 2026

Wine Grapes

Harvest of Frontenac wine grapes has begun, and harvest of other hybrid varieties and grapes intended for sparkling and rosé wine production will start soon.

Downy mildew has been an issue in vineyards this year and botrytis and sour rot are also appearing in orchards. For more information on bunch rot and sour rot, check out this article by Wendy McFadden-Smith “Pre-harvest pest problems in vineyards, 2024”.

Cabernet Franc (left) and Reisling (right) in Lincoln, September 4, 2026