South Tyrol apples set for good season

"Thanks to favourable conditions during the blossom period, with warm temperatures and sunny skies, South Tyrol's apple orchards are set up for good fruit formation performance", states Robert Wiedmer, coordinator of the fruit cultivation department at the South Tyrol Fruit and Grape cultivation Consultancy Center.

This year the apple trees blossomed at the end of March, roughly ten days earlier than last year, and some days earlier than the average date in recent years. After a particularly positive apple season in 2013, with a harvest only just below 1 million tons of apples, this year's blossom performance has been excellent once again. Pollination conditions were ideal, featuring good weather and mild temperatures. Depending on altitude, some nights saw below-zero temperatures, but the use of irrigation systems made it possible to avoid damage in the apple orchards.
Robert Wiedmer explains that the situation regarding fire blight disease is also positive: so far no cases have been reported, and the kind of conditions that can encourage the disease have occurred only rarely.

In the meantime, low temperatures have reduced premature blossoming. "All the varieties are showing good fruit formation and attachment, even though the early drop period is not over yet, so it's too early to draw final conclusions," stresses Mr. Wiedmer, the expert.

Whether or not the season continues along the lines of these promising beginnings we shall see, but we'll certainly know all about that by the time the next edition of Interpoma is upon us, next November. By then the harvest will be over and its data will be available to be included in apple industry analysis and study at this key global event.

The International Trade Show for apple cultivation, storage and marketing will once again be held, from 20-22 November, at the Fiera Bolzano Exhibition Center, presenting all the sector's latest developments.

For more information:
Elena Vincenzi and Alice Camellini
Interpoma c/o Fruitecom
Tel: +39-059-7863894
Email: alice.camellini@fruitecom.it
www.interpoma.it