www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JANUARY 1, 2015 21
Above, the packing facility for the Merano region's marketing co-op, VI.P's Sudtirol
Val Venosta. VI.P and a second large marketing cooperative, VOG, pack and sell
98 percent of the Tyrol's apples. At left, nearly all of the apples are under hail nets
on the Kurt Komiss farm near Bolzano.
PHOTOS BY RICHARD LEHNERT/GOOD FRUIT GROWER
Nestled along the Alpine range, Italy's northern province of South Tyrol (Sudtirol) has about 45,000 acres of apples, but most are on farms
of less than 12 acres. Growers here collaborate in mighty cooperatives to produce about 58 million bushels each year. Above, the 25-acre
farm owned by grower Stefan Klotzner offers striking views. Below right, Klotzner leads a tour of International Fruit Tree Association
members on his farm, located near Merano.
