I've decided to study frost tolerance of ripening apples more carefully than in the past. Just before dawn temps fell to 23.5 F in my orchard this morning. It was just below freezing at 9:30 the previous evening and was in the 20's for at least several hours.

None of the apples on the trees, which include Jonagold, Pink Lady, Goldrush, Newtown, Cameo, Winesap, Fuji and Braeburn appear to have suffered injury. When I first got up the Pink Ladies were frozen solid but nearby Goldrush were only cold. Now that fruit is fully thawed it has same crunchiness as yesterday.

If the quality of any of these apples drops off noticeably in next couple days I will keep you posted.