Nevertheless, Georg Kössler, chairman of the South Tyrolean apple Association, is very positive when he looks back on the 2015 harvest. “Due to the good weather during the fall we have apples of an excellent quality this year. The appearance and the taste are great.” A total of 1,127,227 metric tons of apples were harvested in 2015.
The ranking of the harvested apples hasn’t changed compared to last year. The Golden Delicious is the most harvested apple in South Tyrol with 406,000 metric tons. That is about 40% of the harvest in South Tyrol. The yield of the Gala apple increased to slightly over 16% of the harvest (2014:15%). The Red Delicious has the third place with 11% (112,000 metric tons). The varieties Granny Smith (8%), Fuji (6%) and Braeburn (6%) follow in the distance.
Steady growth of the organic segment
The organic segment continues to grow, compared to last year’s harvest of 46,000 metric tons the harvest of organic apples increased with 3%. This means that around 47,800 metric tons of organic apples were harvested in South Tyrol this year. With a yield of 14,474 metric tons (+11%) the Gala apple is, just like last year, the most harvested organic apple in South Tyrol.
South Tyrolean apple present at the international trade fairs
In February 2016 South Tyrolean apple is present at two important trade fairs, Fruit Logistica in Berlin and the Biofach in Nuremberg. The expected 65,000 visitors to Fruit Logistica can visit 2,700 international exhibitors, for instance the South Tyrolean Fruit Associations VOG as well as the producers association ‘Fruttunion’ in hall 4.2 stand B10.
And from 10-13 February at the international trade fair Biofach the South Tyrol production cooperatives will discuss together with the stakeholders questions concerning the future of the market. The famous organic fruit brands from South Tyrol, Bio Südtirol, Bio Vinschgau and Bio Melany, are the focus of attention in hall 7 stand 355.
Not only the visitors of the fair but also consumers can immerse themselves in to the world of apples in South Tyrol. From March the apple growers in South Tyrol offer guided tours to visitors in Europe's largest apple orchard, South Tyrol. And in supermarkets in Germany consumers get the opportunity to sample special taste of the apples and other products with their origin in South Tyrol. In addition, the apples from South Tyrol will be increasingly presented with promotional appearances at Nordic markets (Sweden, Norway and Finland) in the coming months.
For more information: www.suedtirolerapfel.com
Source: Südtiroler Apfel