Here is another picture of the plant, with the growers card in it so you can see the comparison of the fruit. Is it ripe already?

Fall gold is ever bearing, it gives a spring crop on the floricanes and in the fall the primocanes fruit.

My fall gold floricanes have been giving me fruit for the last month....very good taste

Not ripe yet though. I find it fairly insipid unless dark orange and soft. Even then not that impressed.

You're not doing anything wrong. Fall Gold produces a small crop on last years growth (the floricane) in the spring and a large fall crop on new growth (the primocane). Some people manage everbearers as fall bearers by mowing the canes down to ground level in the spring; the yields are somewhat higher. I personally prefer having fresh fruit for the longest period possible, so I cut my canes down to just below where the last fruit of the year formed so I can get the spring crop.

thanks all-- unfortunately this one didnt make it last year. Perfectly healthy leaves began to wilt and then canes started dying back mysteriously from the ground up. No clue what happened, but enjoyed the berries while they lasted. Hopefully better luck this year with a new variety.

Ninkasi, you might check to see if you have any cane borers insects over there. The symptoms you describe might indicate that in North America.