Good results for Val Venosta apples - the 2015 harvest was in line with the previous year for a total of 360,000 tons. "There has been a 3% drop in Golden Delicious, met by a 7% increase of Gala, Red Delicious and Pinova," explains Josef Wielander (in the photo below), director of VI.P, l'Associazione delle Cooperative Ortofrutticole della Val Venosta.
"The 2015/16 season started well. The first months between September and January confirmed that the destocking plan had been properly followed for all varieties. Quality is excellent for what concerns the colour (thanks to temperature differences between day and night), sugar levels and acidity," explains Fabio Zanesco, sales manager for VI.P.
"Prices were also good, so we managed to be available on all markets. Record sales in autumn and early winter meant our stocks are all under control, for example, we sold two thirds of Gala apples and we expect we will sell everything between mid-February and March."
Fabio Zanesco.
"The Red Delicious season is going according to plan, as we have sold 40% of the total stocks as expected. The peak for Golden Delicious is February-May - a third of the product was sold during the first part of the season and the remaining two will enable us to continue until September 2016."
For what concerns the Envy® and Ambrosia® varieties, volumes available have been sold in early January 2016, just as expected. We have recently started selling the Pinova variety, which European and Italian consumers seems to be increasingly interested in."
"Italy has confirmed its place as the main market, but European destinations like Germany, Spain and Scandinavia continue to perform well. Results are in line with expectations and we are looking forward to confirming the quality of our produce in spring."
The international market
The problems that affected the market in early 2014, such as previous stocks and the Russian ban, seem to be no longer an issue. In early 2015, in fact, the limit posed by the Russian embargo was tackled thanks to an opening towards other states.
For what concerns the US market, Wielander said that "evolution is good. It is a positive thing for phytosanitary barriers to adapt to the EU, but we need to keep varieties and payment conditions in mind. The world is changing."
Sales in Europe saw a slight drop (between -3 and -7%), just like North Africa due to the economic-political problems in the new regimes. The European and Italian markets are very similar for what concerns consumption levels. "Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Germany remain our main markets, especially for the Golden variety."
Varietal innovation
VI.P can count on a wide range of varieties - Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala and Pinova are the "classical" varieties cultivated in Val Venosta, but there are also younger club varieties planted in 2013 like Ambrosia, Envy® and Kanzi®.
Pinova found its ideal habitat in the valley. Together with Golden apples, it is the typical variety of Val Venosta. Ambrosia was born in Canada by a natural crossbreed and is produced in partnership with Rivoira. Envy® originated in New Zealand and is produced in cooperation with VOG. Kanzi® has a firm juicy flesh and a perfect balance between sugar content and acidity.
"Many projects will be developed in 2016."
Technology at the service of quality - the GEOS cooperative
Apple sorting is being improved this year - the existing system will guarantee a more precise setting of parameters such as quality, colour, redness, diameter and shape. The new technology is suitable for all the different needs of the many varieties and presents numerous advantages in the sales, payment and stocking stages.
The new system means the produce will all be similarly graded both for what concerns the various parameters and the different cooperative. The sorted products will have a better quality and meet client demands while obtaining a single measuring system throughout the Associations. It will be possible to choose the characteristics of the apples and distinguish different producer categories to provide specific guidelines.
In November 2015, the GEOS cooperative started working with a state-of-the-art automatic warehouse for a better management of stocks thanks to an automated transfer between the grading and processing/packing stages. The Fifo (First In, First Out) system guarantees in fact the freshness and high-quality of apples.