Varietal development, orchard protection and new processing techniques are yielding positive results
VIP, the Val Venosta Fruit and Vegetable Cooperative, is stepping up efforts to combat the negative impact of climate change throughout its production and packing processes.
According to Christian Gamper, quality manager for VIP’s organic sector, the effects of climate change in the Alpine region, where the cooperative’s production is located, are more severe and rapid compared to other areas in Italy. The evolving scenario is marked by increasingly extreme phenomena.
“Since 2017, we have been observing issues such as fluctuating production cycles with increasingly variable yields, the spread of woolly aphid infestations, and early blooms often followed by late frosts,” he explained.
VIP has been collaborating with the Laimburg Research Centre and South Tyrolean Variety Innovation Consortium for several years on the development of varieties that are increasingly tolerant to pests, fungal diseases, and warmer climates.
“Thanks to this research, 30 per cent of our organic varieties, including Topaz, Bonita, SQ159-Natyra, and Pinova, are already resistant to apple scab,” Gamper said.
Beyond breeding, recent efforts have focused on studying new rootstocks as a solution to future challenges. VIP believes that robust experimentation will become a crucial factor moving forward.
“While we are looking to the future, we are also acting in the present,” Gamper continued. “Many organic orchards are equipped with frost irrigation systems and hail nets, which also serve a shading function.”
And VIP said the processing stage is equally important. Here, technologies such as hot water treatment can reduce decay during storage, while advanced washing systems can minimise defects.
Despite the challenges, VIP said the 2024 organic apple harvest in Val Venosta closed on a positive note. “The volume stands at 94 per cent of the previous year. The product is stable, with firmness even higher than last year and sugar levels perfectly within the average range. These are all signs that confirm the quality of our work and the right direction we have taken,” Gamper noted.
Gala led VIP’s organic output with 16,000 tonnes of production. Pinova followed with around 8,000 tonnes, while the Club variety Bonita achieved 4,000 tonnes, and Topaz contributed 2,000 tonnes. The season proved more challenging for Golden Delicious, which halved its volume compared to 2023, yielding only 5,400 tonnes due to extraordinary weather events in spring (humidity and cold) and during the harvest (rain and strong winds).
“VIP’s objective remains clear: to maintain its leadership in the EU organic apple sector while ensuring fair returns for our member growers,” Gamper said.
“The cooperative demonstrates that resilience and innovation can transform the risks of climate change into opportunities for growth, where the professionalism of each member becomes a vital component of a well-oiled machine.”
