| MATURITY CHARACTERISTIC | EXPLANATION |
| (1) Ambering | "Ambering," which many authorities on apricots recognize as an indicator of maturity, refers to the replacement of the green colored flesh immediately around the pit with an amber shade of flesh. |
| (2) Springiness | "Springiness" develops in connection with the separation of the flesh from the pit. It is an indication that the apricot is reaching proper tree maturity for picking for fresh shipment. Springiness may be detected by: |
| •External pressure on the apricot; or | |
| •Cutting the apricot in half at right angles to the longitudinal axis and noting how one-half or both halves slip away from the pit. | |
| (3) Taste | On a tree whose fruit is ready for harvest for fresh shipment, it is quite common to find apricots that are fairly palatable because they have lost much of their green taste. However, in using this test, do not be misled by apricots that, because of worm infestation, may be maturing abnormally. |
| (4) Separation of fruit from the stem | The way apricots separate from their stems is an indication of their maturity. For example, immature apricots tend to tear the adjacent skin and flesh more than apricots that are near proper maturity. |