As blossom removal is not necessary during the normal cool weather, it may not be necessary most seasons. If the fire blight model says risk is high, and your young trees have scattered blossoms, pulling the blossoms may save you much more than the cost of labor. Many organic growers successfully use the blossom removal method to prevent secondary bloom fire blight on their pears and apples. On larger trees, any caustic blossom thinning sprays that burn the stigma tips are likely to prevent the continued build-up of the blight bacteria on the treated blossoms. This stigma tip removal may set back the overall infestation level of blossoms in the block for a few days after application.
Plant apples on fire blight resistant rootstock, whenever possible.
Some good new blight resistant rootstocks are recently available, and more are coming. Keep vigor of the tree moderate. This will not prevent infection, but it will reduce damage done to the tree by the blight strikes. If your trees are likely to be blooming during the upcoming high risk period, apply a biocontrol spray. Watch the Model.