Italian apple association VI.P Val Venosta has appointed a new president. Thomas Oberhofer, previously the group’s vice-president, has taken over from Karl Dietl, who held the position for nine years, to become the association’s fourth president.
The appointment puts a powerhouse of the Venosta valley at the heart of the association: Oberhofer is also president of Laces-based Mivor, the area’s largest apple co-operative.
He was previously director of another co-operative, Lasa-based Alpe, between 1985 and 1996, after which time he dedicated his time to the family fruit-growing business while also being elected president of Mivo prior to its merger with Ortler to become Mivor.
When VI.P was formed in 1990, he became a member of its supervisory board and remained there until 2005.
In 2005, he succeeded Karl Weiss as president of Mivo and became vice-president of VI.P.
Then two years later, he assumed the presidency of the newly formed Mivor.
