Fruit trees like apple are notoriously difficult to get a good crop from without spraying. Some people seem to luck out, but the trees are prone to all manner of pest and disease. If you go over to the orchard forum and just scan the posts you will see how much of the conversation is about this problem and this product to treat it with. I remember my dad's apple trees growing up. Almost never a non wormy or deformed apple unless he sprayed regularly. Now, is this a threat to commercial growers? I really don't know. Nevertheless if you are committed to growing apple trees and doing it organically start your research now. It isn't easy. I have a hard enough time doing it with pears and grapes, I don't even try apples.

Overripe fruit is less acidic, so maybe they figure if it's ripe enough to fall instead of having to be picked, it's riper? Then there is the bruising, which I guess causes a drop in acidity, and finally the bacterial contamination from the ground. Of course if there is any decompostion, there are a lot of bacteria in the rotting part(s) too. Orchards in CT can't sell or use drops/windfalls in cider, but can sell seconds (damaged by machinery during sorting, bug bites, deformed, small). Hard to find this year though - they're processing them all into cider, pies, etc. since the harvest is smaller than usual.

As it turns out, it was an American bladdernut.

Thanks. I think I agree with the over-fertilization idea. I've since done some research on bsfl leachate ( i said i used emulsion which is incorrect, I actually use the leachate) and evidently it needs to be diluted heavily to be safe. I had been using it almost in its raw form! Im keeping my eyes open for mites or signs of them, but nothing yet. I havent broken out the magnifying glass yet tho.