More organic apples from South Tyrol

Accounting for 25% of the harvest, South Tyrol is the most important organic apple supplier in the European Union, says Dr. Paul Zandanel, Marketing Manager of EOS (Export Organisation South Tyrol) from the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce. Due to increasing demand, fruit growers in South Tyrol plan to cultivate even more apples in compliance with organic guidelines. According to Dr. Zandanel, "The geographical and climatic conditions in South Tyrol are ideal for organic apple cultivation." He reported that approx. 4% of the South Tyrol apples are organically grown each year in the most northerly province of Italy on around 680 hectares of land at an altitude of between 200 and 1,000 metres. Around 31,000 tons of bio apples were harvested in 2007, 24,000t in 2006 and 25,500t in 2005. Around 40% of the organic apple harvest is sold in Italy and 35% supplied to Germany. The remaining 25% is sent to other European countries, primarily England, Scandinavia and France. South Tyrol fruit growers are continuing their successful "Crunchy" advertising campaign this year with 500 free sample days planned for German supermarkets.