The South Tyrol Association for Variety Renewal (SK-Südtirol), a research and development agency based in Italy's largest apple production region, is finalising plans to replant a number of the area's orchards with three new trademarked apple varieties, namely Modì, Kanzi and Jazz.
According to a press statement, around 800ha of apple orchards in the South Tyrol have already been replaced over the past few years with varieties that enjoy high levels of popularity in key markets.
'Last year, 40 per cent of the new orchards were planted with Golden Delicious and 15 per cent with Gala,' said the statement. 'The Granny Smith and Red Delicious varieties are also favoured by apple growers, each accounting for 11 per cent of new plantations.'
Istat figures published recently by CSO show that Italy produced some 2.18m tonnes of apples last year. South Tyrol produces around half of the national crop.
The characteristics and potential of these three new varieties will be presented on 6 November 2008 during a conference entitled 'The Apple in the World', due to be held at the international exhibition centre in Bolzano as part of the bi-annual apple industry trade fair Interpoma, which takes place on 6-8 November 2008.
The three-day supporting programme will look at a variety of topics related to the production, storage, distribution and marketing of fresh apples.
“One of the focuses of the conference will be the world apple market, especially the Asian, Russian and European markets,” says conference organiser Kurt Werth, a global authority on the apple sector. “It is generally accepted that in Europe, fruit growers’ organisations play an extremely significant role. For them business is booming right now, due in no small measure to marketing policies introduced by the European Union, which has also implemented important strategies for the prevention and professional management of sales crises,” he concludes.
Among the speakers who have already confirmed their participation in the conference are: Francesca Arena of the European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection; Philippe Binard, general delegate of Freshfel Europe; and Hermine Reich of the European Food Safety Authority.
According to the World Apple Review, worldwide apple production reached over 63m tonnes in 2006, of which 55 per cent was grown in Asia. Europe was the world's second most productive area, with 22 per cent of the total harvested volume, while North America accounted for 15 per cent.
The continuous replanting of apple orchards to keep pace with production and market demands, variety renewal and attention paid to the most sought-after varieties are the factors which have made South Tyrolean apple growers the global leaders in their field, according to Interpoma organiser Fiera Bolzano.
The South Tyrol Association for Variety Renewal was formed by the Association of South Tyrol Fruit Growers’ Co-operatives (VOG) and the Cooperative Association of Val Venosta (VIP), in conjunction with the Advisory Board for Fruit and Wine Cultivation and the Laimburg Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry.
More information at www.interpoma.com
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