e know from ancient historical documents that, since the Middle Ages, the Italian alpine region of Alto Adige, which borders Austria and Swizerland, boasted an unusually large number of apple varieties in its orchards. From this wealth of varieties the area developed over time a thriving apple export business, which during the 18th Century reached even the markets of Germany and Russia.
A nursery list, compiled by the guild of Bolzano farmers in 1856, detailed 193 apple varieties that could be successfully grown in the region. Centuries of continuous production allowed Alto Adige's farmers to identify and nurture the fruit's best traits. By 1894, however, the number of apple varieties grown locally had already been reduced to 40.
Alto Adige's bountiful apples harvest is easily explained by the highly favorable combination of environmental and climatic conditions found there. The landscape is so well suited for apple trees that many other non-local varieties, introduced in recent times, are successfully grown next to native ones.
Today Alto Adige is home to over 8,000 apple farmers, most of whom are associated with cooperatives. The high volume of production, and need for related services, from packaging to transportation, have made the apple trade in Alto Adige into one of the region’s main economic engines.