You will see these symptoms each year unless the nearby cedar trees that are acting as the alternate host for the disease are removed. Fungal spores can travel one-half mile through the air, so removing Eastern red cedar trees only within eyeshot of your apple tree may not solve the problem. This fungal disease will also be worse in some years that have very wet weather at crucial times in spring. Spraying with a chemical fungicide staring early in spring will reduce the problem next year. The best material available to homeowners is a fungicide called Immunox (not Immunox Plus).

For more information on this disease and its management:
http://extension.umd.edu/hgic/plants/diseases-apples-and-pears
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/456/456-018/456-018%2003%20Home%20Fruit.pdf

Jon