The harvest of Royal Gala apples in South Tyrol began last week, and it got off to a promising start. "We picked the first batches on 12 August," says Markus Tscholl, coordinator of Asta Frutta Alto Adige. "The campaign is in full swing now. This year, we are seeing exceptional quality thanks to the weather in July."
© Suedtiroler Obstversteigerung - Asta Frutta Alto Adige
According to Tscholl, "The July weather finally resembled that of previous years, with a notable temperature difference between day and night. These conditions allowed the apples to develop an intense color and excellent aroma. The grapes also benefited from this."
So far, prices are in line with those of the same period in 2024 and can be considered favorable. "In addition to selling to Italian customers, we have exported batches of Gala apples, primarily to Eastern Europe. For the next 15 days, our suppliers will harvest apples in the valley. Then, the harvest will move to higher elevations in the valley and continue until mid-September."
© Cristiano Riciputi | FreshPlaza.comMarkus Tscholl, coordinator
Meanwhile, small fruits such as strawberries and raspberries are still being auctioned off. "We have seen a drop in strawberry production, as well as very high prices," the coordinator points out. The strawberry and raspberry harvests will continue until October. Raspberries are benefiting from a lively market and average price levels. The cherry and blueberry harvests have concluded, and producers can be satisfied with the results in these segments as well."
With nearly as many customers as producers - 550 registered buyers and 760 producers - Asta Frutta Alto Adige is an important historical and local presence for apple sales. The company's first experience dates back to 1960. The 760 producers own a total area of over 900 hectares and are expected to produce around 45,000 tons of apples.
For more information:
Fruit Auction South Tyrol
Vilpiano (BZ) - Italy
+39 0471 676511
[email protected]
www.astafrutta.it
