Ländle Apfel

 
Record Number: 83
 
Disclosure Date
As early as in the 13^th  century fruit-growing played an important role in Vorarlberg. 
 

Photo: BM...

Title
Ländle Apfel
(Ländle apple)
 
Abstract or claim
Traditional apple production in extensive and intensive orchards in Vorarlberg, Austria.
The specific climate conditions and the production close to nature bestow extraordinary quality and flavour upon apples.
Ländle apples are mainly marketed as fresh table fruits or are processed to apple juice, cider, noble spirits or traditional dishes.
 
Name of product, Product class
Apple, pome fruit, fruits
 
Name of region
Ländle, Vorarlberg, Austria 
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture 
 
Name of information provider
Daniela Fiel
Ländle Quality Products Marketing GmbH
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
16 fruit farmers and producers in Vorarlberg 
 
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
- History:

Records of petrified apples in lake dwelling of the Lake Constance (German: Bodensee) suggest the use of wild apples around 5000-2500 B.C.
 
In medieval times Charlemagne (747- 814 n. Chr.) promoted the fruit-growing in Europe by his enactment "Capitulare de villis vel curtis imperii" of 802.
 
In the 8th century A.D. documents of St. Gallen- Bodensee (Switzerland) evidence fruit growing near the shores of Lake Constance.
In the 9th century apples and other fruits have been already mentioned in the garden of the abbey St. Gallen.
As the monastery St. Gallen had close relations to Vorarlberg it influenced fruit growing there.
 
Documents prove that fruit-growing boomed in Vorarlberg from the 13th to the 16th century.
 
In 1862 the “Vorarlberger Landwirtschaftsverein” (Vorarlberger Agricultural Association) was founded. The aim was to promote
and improve fruit-growing by training teachers for further education of fruit growers.
 
In 1868 an experimental orchard was established in Dornbirn.
In 1889 the first fruit-grower association was founded by the school principal Maximilian Schmidinger in Dornbirn.
Around 1875 the association funded the establishment of private orchards and municipalities’ planting of fruit trees along streets.
 
Between 1870 and 1900 great efforts were made to promote and improve methods of fruit growing.
In 1900 the Ministry of Agriculture of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy assigned the senior teacher Max Schmidinger to attend the world exhibition in Paris. There Vorarlberg presented 8 fruit boxes containing 25 apple varieties and 16 pear varieties. The association of Vorarlberg was awarded a gold medal and Max Schmidinger a silver medal meant for staff members.
 
About 1900 the fertilization with artificial manure gained importance and the export of fruits started to play a role.
 
In the mid-20th century fruit growing expanded and numerous nurseries were founded.
 
In 2001 the Ländle Qualitätsprodukte Marketing GmbH (Ländle Quality Product Marketing GmbH) was established. It is the main company for marketing and quality management of all agricultural products from Vorarlberg. The aim is to increase the awareness for domestic products, to enhance their quality and to add additional value.
 
The term “Ländle Apfel” was introduced for regional quality apples about 35 years ago.
 
Apples in history:
Apples appear in many religious traditions, often as a mystical or forbidden fruit. In Christian mythology it is the forbidden fruit, a symbol of sin and allurement (Adam and Eve).
 
For a long time the apple was a symbol of power. Kings and emperors held a golden sceptre and a gilded Globus Cruciger in their hands as a symbol of the globe.
In 1638 the Turkish army besieged Vienna and aimed at seizing the “golden apple” on top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
 
Medicinal uses:
As early as in ancient times the Greek physician Hippocrates (about 460 B.C. – ab. 370 B.C.) and the Roman writers Dioscorides (1st century A.D.) and Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) described medicinal effects from apples. Sweet apples were considered to be difficult to digest, cooked apples to be purgative and ripe apples to be astringent. Folk medicine of the ancient world used blossoms, roots and apple seeds against various problems like gallstones, gastric troubles, hairlessness, eye pains, and varicose veins.
 
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) mentions apples as medicative fruits. She recommended the leaves of apple trees against lens opacity, the buds against disorders of liver, spleen and gut and against head ache. The soil under an apple tree was thought to be effective against pains of the back, loin and belly.
 
- Region:
Vorarlberg (vernacularly called „Ländle“) is the westernmost province of Austria. It is bordered by Lake Constance and river Rhine in the west, the mountain ranges Arlberg and Verwallgruppe in the East, the mountain ranges Rätikon and Silvretta in the South and the German Allgäu in the West.
Vorarlberg borders Bavaria (Germany), Graubünden and St. Gallen (Switzerland), the Principality of Liechtenstein and Tyrol (Austria).
 
In the context of Region of Delight the region Ländle Apfel includes the Vorarlberg Rhine valley from Lake Constance to Feldkirch and the valley Walgau.
 
The large and flat valley floor is coined with apple and pear trees in mainly extensive orchards and partly in fruit plantation at an altitude between 400 and 800 m.
 
The acreage in the region for Ländle apple is about 30 ha, the average acreage of one farmer 1,8 ha.
 
Soil and climate conditions:
The soils vary between pseudogley and gley soils. There are soils on carbonate rocks, calcareous brown soils and clay soils similar to brown-loam soils. The deep soils rich in nutrients provide ideal conditions for producing apples of excellent quality.
 
The climate is atlantic due to westerly winds from Lake Constance.
Temperature differences are moderate due to the influence of the huge water mass of Lake Constance. Winters are mild and rich in snow, summers are rather cool.
Annual average temperature is about 10 °C. Foehn winds often occur in the Rhine valley and the Walgau.
In autumn the weather is rather stable and dry showing low temperatures during nights.
The annual precipitation is high (1500 - 2000 mm).
 
- Ländle apple:
Apples (Malus domestica) belong to the family Rosaceae, genus Malus.
 
Apple varieties:
Apple trees in intensive orchards encompass numerous varieties like the early varieties Delbar Estival and Summerred, the autumn varieties Gala and Elstar and the store varieties Jonagold, Topaz, Boskoop, Idared and Rubinette. The main apple variety is Elstar (about 22 %).
 
Traditional apple varieties in extensive orchards are, for example, Brentewinar, Zenteler and Maschansker. They are used for producing apple juice-, cider and noble spirits.
 
Method of production:
Ländle apples are produced according to the guidelines of Ländle Quality Products Marketing GmbH. They are strongly orientated to the requirements of Integrated Production (IP) taking into account the protection of soil and the minimal application of environmentally-friendly plant protection products.
 
Ländle apple is predominantly produced as dessert fruit. Low-grade apples are delivered to local cideries for producing apple juice and cider.
 
Planting of apple trees:
Young apple trees stem from own propagations or from tree nurseries in Styria or the Netherlands. As the acreage is rather constant only a few trees are replanted.
Trees are cultivated in lines and have a small crown (max. about 3 m high).
 
In winter and summer the apple trees are pruned.
 
Apple blossom is usually from mid-April to mid-May.
The trees are thinned out by removing all the damaged or diseased fruit. This ensures that the remaining fruits have enough space to reach ideal size and ripeness.
 
Fertilization:
Trees are fertilized with mineral fertilizers, farm manure and compost, if necessary. The majority of these fertilisers is bought.
Fertilization is subject the nutrient deficiency in the soils.
 
Plant protection:
Plant protection measures are only applied after the economic thresholds are reached. Only pesticides are used which are permitted by the guidelines of integrated production. The application of pesticides is to be documented in the acreage index.
 
Irrigation:
Irrigation is not necessary due to sufficient rainfall and the capacity of the regional soils to store water.
 
Harvesting, storage and grading:
Harvesting, storage and grading of Ländle apples are exclusively done by fruit producers in the region.
 
Ripe apples are harvested, depending on the variety, from end-August to begin-November. Apple growers pick the fruits manually and gently put them into picking baskets so as to avoid pressure marks or lesions.
 
After that apples are classified by varieties, quality classes and size (diameter) by the farmers.
 
About 500 t Ländle apples are harvested each year, which corresponds to about 4 million apples.
 
Fruit growers have own storehouses which range from simple cellars to modern cold storage houses with controlled atmosphere (CA-storage).
Apples under controlled atmosphere are stored under conditions of 2 % oxygen, 92 % humidity and 1 - 3 °C.
Optimal storage conditions enable the marketing of apples throughout the year.
 
Apples are delivered to the point of sale in the Austrian reusable box, in cardboard boxes (10 kg) or in baskets (4 kg). Every farmer delivers apples by himself.
 
Nutritional aspects of apples:
Apples are rich in nutrients. An apple delivers a quarter of the daily vitamin C requirement and contains about 20 mineral substances like potassium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium.
The pulp is rich in flavonoids, which have positive health effects (anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, cancer protective, regulation of blood sugar and blood pressure, stimulation of immune system).
The apple skin contains carotinoids which may stimulate the immune system, prevent cancer, and act as free radical scavengers. Apples contain pectin, which has a positive effect on digestion and the feeling of satiety.
 
Proof of origin:
Ländle apples are traceable from fruit-growers to retail as the name of the producer is labelled on the boxes. Furthermore, a high rate of direct marketing (1/3) ensures knowledge about the apples’ origin.
 
Quality:
Ländle apples are conform quality class I in retail.
Quality criteria are the firmness of the apples, their flavour and content of vitamins and sugar.
 
Quality control:
Ländle apple producers are committed to keep records of all measures taken.
 
Ländle Marketing GmbH in cooperation with the Vorarlberger environment institute annually checks apples in a laboratory with regard to pesticide residues. Moreover they check the committed records on plant protection and fertilisation, the proper functioning of devices for the application of pesticides, the storage facility for plant pesticide and the whole farm.
 
Quality labelling
Ländle apples are labelled with the seal of quality „Luag druf – Ländle Qualität“, which stands for production and processing of products in Vorarlberg. Moreover, it ensures compliance with the strict quality guidelines.
 
- Marketing:
The brand „Ländle Apfel“ is marketed by Ländle Quality Products Marketing GmbH.
 
Ländle apples are offered in regional retail shops, on farmer's markets or directly by farmers from end-August to March or throughout the year depending on the yield. About one third of the yield is marketed directly.
 
Distinct quality linked to origin and Traditional Knowledge
- Specific fertile soils and atlantic weather conditions provide ideal conditions
  for the cultivation of apples in the region.
- The unique taste and aroma are directly related to the numerous hours of
  sunshine in summers and the differences in temperature between day and
  night in autumn
- The production of Ländle Apfel is the result of Traditional Knowledge and
  expertise of fruit growers (adaptation of production methods to the environmental
  conditions, selection of cultivars, harvesting, storage technology) and the
  experience of retail sellers in marketing and of processors (fruit juices, fruit spirits).
 
- Utilization:
Ländle apples are predominantly marketed as fresh dessert fruits. Furthermore apples are used for the production of apple juice, cider and noble brandy.
 
Regional restaurant, bakeries and confectionery process apples to local specialities like apple strudel and other dessert.
 
- Protection:
Word/picture trademark: Ländle Produkte (Austrian Patent Office, Register Nr. 219 535, in the year 2004)
 
Word/picture trademark: Ländle Qualität – Luag druf (Austrian Patent Office, Register Nr. 210 540, in the year 2003) 
 
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Vorarlberg, Ländle, region, apple, pome fruit, fruit, Ländle Apfel, Ländle apple
 
Bibliography / References
- Apfel
  http://www.pflanzenliebe.de/innen/innen_essbares/innen_apfel.html
- Äpfel
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%84pfel
- Apfel und Birne
  http://www.vsov.at/apfel.birne.htm
- Bregenz: Historische Entwicklung
  http://www.bregenz.at/fileadmin/Downloads/Wirtschaft_Zahlen_Fakten/historischesundStadtgebietdoc_01.pdf - Der Ländle Apfel
  http://www.laendle.at/main_fr.php4?m1id=3&m2id=43&m3id=69
- Der Ländle Apfel – gesunde Sicherheit aus kontrolliertem Anbau
  http://www.laendle.at/main_fr.php4?m1id=3&m2id=43&m3id=40
- Die forstlichen Wuchsgebiete Österreichs: Wuchsgebiet 4.1:
  Nördliche Randalpen – Westteil
  http://bfw.ac.at/300/1213.html#böden
- Genuss Region: Ländle Apfel
  http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/24978
- Klimadaten Vorarlberg
  www.vorarlberg.at/vorarlberg/umwelt_zukunft/umwelt/umweltundlebensmittel/weitereinformationen/luft_klima/klimadaten.htm - Ländle Apfel: Die Apfelsaison trägt im Ländle wahrlich ihre Früchte
  http://www.pklwk.at/netautor/napro4/appl/na_professional/parse.php?id=2500%2C1243837%2C%2C%2CbnBmX3NldF9wb3NbaGl0c109MQ%3D%3D
- Ländle Apfel: Gemeinsam mit der Natur
  http://www.laendle.at/main_fr.php4?m1id=3&m2id=43&m3id=40
- Ländle Apfel wieder erhältlich
  http://vorarlberg.orf.at/stories/136730/
- Ländle Produkte - „Luag druf“
  http://www.laendle.at/content.php4?m1id=3&m2id=&m3id=&m4id=&mi=&ncl=
- Obst und Gemüse
  http://www.agrar-net.at/netautor/napro4/wrapper/media.php?id=%2C%2C%2C%2CZmlsZW5hbWU9YXJjaGl2ZSUzRCUyRjIwMDcuMDguMTYlMkYxMTg3MjQ4OTg1LnBkZiZybj1PYnN0JTI2R2VtJUZDc2VfTGF5b3V0JTIwMS5wZGY%3D - Obstbau
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstbau
- Obst- und Gartenbaugeschichte
  http://www.ogv.at/ogv/documents/2007/ogv20070108000006.pdf
- ÖPUL 2007 – Integrierte Produktion Obst und Hopfen
  http://www.agrar-net.at/netautor/napro4/wrapper/media.php?id=%2C%2C%2C%2CZmlsZW5hbWU9YXJjaGl2ZSUzRCUyRjIwMDguMDMuMDYlMkYxMjA0ODA0MzUxLnBkZiZybj1NRkEwOF9NRUJJUE8ucGRm. - „Steinzeit-Apfelfest“ bei Pfahlbauten Unteruhldingen
  www.bodensee-woche.de/steinzeit-apfelfest-bei-pfahlbauten-unteruhldingen
- Vorarlberg
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorarlberg
- Vorarlberg
  http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.v/v885304.htm
- Vorarlbergs Land- und Forstwirtschaftliche Zahlen
  http://www.agrar-net.at/netautor/napro4/wrapper/media.php?id=%2C%2C%2C%2CZmlsZW5hbWU9YXJjaGl2ZSUzRCUyRjIwMDcuMDcuMjUlMkYxMTg1MzQzOTQzLnBkZiZybj1JbmZvZmFsdGVyJTIwMjAwNyUyMGludGVybmV0LnBkZg%3D%3D
 
All internet references last accessed on 1 July 2009
 
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
 
Regional contact
Daniela Fiel
Ländle Qualitätsprodukte Marketing GmbH
Montfortstrasse 11/7
A 6900 Bregenz
Phone.: +43 (0) 5574 400-701
E-mail: daniela.fiel@lk-vbg.at
http://www.laendle.at
 
Authors: Daniela Trenkler B.A., Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

18.12.2009, Lebensministerium III/4