"While the 2020/21 season is slowly coming to an end, here in Val Venosta we already think of the 2021 harvest. It’s a cycle without interruption of continuity that enables VIP to supply its clients with apples for 12 months a year and to offer a First Class Apple Partner service."
The destocking proceeds according to plan in the storage cells of the cooperatives belonging to the Val Venosta Cooperatives Association: Red Delicious apples will be available until the end of June and Pinova apples until the end of July, whereas Jonagold apples will be available until August and Golden apples until the end of September.
“Generally speaking, the last season was balanced and characterized by a regular market development over the months. The final balance is positive: We can be satisfied that we could achieve good prices for our members, but we unfortunately registered weather-related harvest losses in some areas,” says Fabio Zanesco, sales and marketing manager VIP.
"We also achieved appreciable results for organic production. The performance of Bio Val Venosta was more than satisfying even though the situation on the organic market has recently become more complicated due to new players on the market but almost constant demand. During the last months the volumes destined for the Italian market, our main market, slightly decreased in favor of exports towards Scandinavia, Germany and United Kingdom. We profit from a privileged positions as we can supply our clients 12 months a year. This year, Red Delicious and Braeburn apples will be available until the end of June, Pinova apples until the end of July and Golden Delicious until the beginning of September. This supply calendar speaks for itself and makes us a strong partner despite increased competition which does not frighten us, but rather encourages us to offer an excellent quality and service,” affirms Gerhard Eberhöfer, sales manager VIP Bio Val Venosta.
Prospects for the next season are good: Due to the long-lasting cold in winter our apple trees flowered about 10 days later, which will inevitably result in a later harvest start without any impact on the quantity or quality of our apples. When all of Italy was affected by frost at the beginning of April leading to harvest losses in many important cultivation areas, the flowering period hadn’t even started in Val Venosta’s apple orchards.
"We therefore expect a 10-15% harvest increase for both integrated and organic production. It is too premature at this stage to make point estimates. There are still many uncertainties related to climate and weather but in case of currently assumed standard fruit sizes, there are good chances to return to normal volumes and to approach a complete commercial season,” comments Zanesco.
“As far as organic production is concerned, we expect an almost certain production increase thanks to new organic orchards. The same, however, is also true for our competitors in France, Germany and Poland, where organic apples from different organic orchards will be available for the first time this year, even though there is currently no knowledge about the developments there,” concludes Eberhöfer.
For more information:
VIP
www.vip.coop