While heatwaves have cut production in several parts of Europe, the Italian association expects a similar crop to last season
Italian producer association Vip says it expects to buck this year’s European apple trend as another season gets underway, with its harvested volumes on track to match the average for the past three years – in stark contrast to an expected decline across the continent.
Apple output in the EU is forecast to fall by 15.6 per cent to around 9.5mn tonnes in 2026, making it the second-smallest crop in the past decade, according to the World Apple & Pear Association.
For Vip, however, its home in Val Venosta, high up in the western part of South Tyrol, has apparently afforded it plenty of protection from recent heatwaves, while also offering the right temperature fluctuations between day and night.
“Being located in the highest homogeneous growing area in Europe, up to now we have always been able to count on a good completion of the production cycle,” explains Vip director Martin Pinzger.
Furthermore, he says, efficient drip and overhead irrigation systems have protected orchards from drought.
As a result, the group expects an “extremely clean” harvest with slightly larger fruit sizes than last year.
Clubbing together
The season kicks off with Gala, which is expected to be around two or three days early, with stable production.
There is a slight drop expected for Golden Delicious – still a major product in Vip’s portfolio – while Red Delicious will be “strategically offset” by planned growth in what are termed ‘club’ apples, or licensed, managed varieties.
When it comes to the older, open-source varieties, however, Vip has a premium offer up its sleeve. “With Golden Qualità Oro, we have succeeded in bringing Golden Delicious into the premium segment,” says Pinzger, “while with Amélie we are working to build a recognisable identity for Class II fruit as well.”
Club apples including Cosmic Crisp, Envy, and Kanzi are expected to register a sharp increase in production, helping to balance the range alongside established mainstays like Ambrosia and giving Vip a premium assortment for 12 months that it says will match modern consumer trends.
“In a European market short on volumes, offering a product with an excellent shelf life represents a crucial competitive advantage for the retail sector,” Pinzger adds. “Vip aims to cover the entire apple shelf by offering variety depth, excellence in conventional fruit, and absolute European leadership in the organic segment.”
