Telephoto RGB image dataset for apple ripening and colour development monitoring in conventional and agrivoltaic orchard conditions

This dataset contains original exported CAM_2 telephoto RGB JPEG images acquired using fixed IoT camera systems in a commercial ‘Gala’ apple orchard near Lake Constance, Germany, during the 2024 growing season. Images were collected in two monitored orchard zones: a conventional orchard zone without overhead photovoltaic panels and an agrivoltaic orchard zone under overhead semi-transparent photovoltaic panels. The dataset contains 98 CAM_2 telephoto RGB images: 50 images from the conventional zone and 48 images from the agrivoltaic zone. The deposited images were curated to retain morning images with recorded filename timestamps between 07:00 and 11:59, supporting broadly comparable illumination conditions for colour-based image analysis. The repository includes original exported JPEG images, a README file, and an image-level metadata file describing acquisition dates, recorded timestamps, camera view, camera height, camera orientation, and approximate camera-to-canopy distance. The dataset is intended to support independent image-analysis studies related to apple detection, visible colour development, and maturation monitoring under conventional and agrivoltaic orchard conditions.