Photo: BMLFUW/Rit...
Oststeirischer Apfel
Record Number: 89
Disclosure Date
Traditional cultivation of apple trees in the region East Styria can be traced back to the Celts and Romans.In 1074 first mention of fruit growing in Styria in a document of the Admont Benedictine Monastery.
Photo: BM...
Oststeirischer Apfel
(East Styrian apple)
Abstract or claim
Traditional cultivation of apple trees in extensive and intensive orchards in the region East Styria.
East Styrian apples comprise new and old apple varieties.
East Styrian apples derive their special taste, their intensive colour, special flavour, and their well-balanced sugar-acidity ratio from the specific regional climate which is characterised by many hours of sunshine in summer and partly significant temperature fluctuations between day and night in autumn.East Styrian apples are either marketed as fresh dessert fruits or processed to apple juice, nectar, cider, liqueur, spirit, sparkling wine, jam, vinegar, and dried fruits. Moreover, East Styrian apples play an essential role in the traditional cuisine.
Name of product, Product class
Apple, pome fruit
Name of region
East Styria, Styria, Austria
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
Name of information provider
Josef Hirt
Tourismusverband ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee
(Tourism Association ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee)
Name of applicant for title
---
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
About 200 fruit growers, Erzeugerorganisation OPST GmbH., processors
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
Descriptors
- History:
It is assumed that the history of apple growing in the region goes way back to the Celts.
Assumedly Celts tried to cultivate fruits in the Danube area as early as in the 3rd century B.C. In the region of the hill Kulm, East Styria, Celts settled in pre-Christian times.
Celts regarded apples as a symbol of eternal youth and beauty. In the Celtic saga the famous apple island “Avalon” (Aval = apple) was thought to be a mystic and holy place.
Furthermore, it is assumed that the Celts produced and drank apple wine in the region several centuries before common era.
It can be safely assumed that fruits including apples were cultivated in the region in Roman times.
A Celto-Roman tombstone (2nd A.C.) which is still embedded in the wall of a churchyard in the village Puch shows an epitaph with a human figure probably holding an apple in its hand.
The first written evidence of fruit cultivation in Styria is from the year 1074. A document of the Admont Benedictine Monastery (West Styria) proves the existence of a big fruit orchard in its Meierhof (farm) from which we can conclude that fruit orchards existed also in the other Styrian monasteries.
Legend has it that the Swedish baker family Eitljörg settled down at the municipality of Puch around the mid-15th century. Just before they wanted to leave again they noted that an apple tree arose from an apple which had accidently fallen down. They recognized the fertility of the area and started apple growing.
In the second half of the 19th century fruit growing gained economic importance in East Styria and played an important role as additional income for farmers. Due to the efforts of the pomologist Coloman Grössbauer (1863-1927) the Raab valley was the most important fruit growing region at that time.
At the municipality Gleisdorf a big terminal was built for the transport of fresh table apples to Hungary and Vienna.
Damaged apples were processed to cider or distilled to spirits by local farmers.
During the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy (1876-1918) the high-quality apples from Styria had a good reputation and were sold to many Crown lands of the Monarchy as premium products. Fruits from Styria were even sold to the court of the Russian Tzar.
The Styrian writer Peter Rosegger (1843-1919) romanticized “As I walked into paradise”, when he described his hiking through the apple growing region of Puch.
In 1979 Puch was granted its own municipality emblem showing the mountain Kulm and six golden apples.
In 1986 the association “Steirische Apfelstraße” (Styrian apple street) was founded by about 40 fruit farmers and gastronomes.
In 1995 the producer organisation “Obst Partner Steiermark GmbH”, (OPST) was established.
In 2004 the designation “frischsaftig steirisch” was registered as a word/picture trademark.
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.–370 B.C.) and the Roman writers Dioscorides (1st century A.D.) and Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.) 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:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
East Styria is the centre of the Austrian apple production and produces about 80 % of the Austrian apples. Puch is the municipality with the highest quantity of apples produced in Austria.
In the context of the Region of Delight “Oststeirischer Apfel” the region encompasses the area “Apfelland-Stubenbergsee” with the municipalities Stubenberg am See, Hofkirchen, Kaibing with Maria Fieberbründl, Puch bei Weiz, Siegersdorf, Tiefenbach, and St. Johann bei Herberstein, Anger, Baierdorf, Feistritz, Floing, and Kulm bei Weiz.
The creeks Weizbach, Ilzbach, Feistritz, Raab, and Lafnitz flow through the “Apfelland” region.
The “apple country” region borders the Eastern Central Alps (Fischbacher Alps, Wechsel, Masenberg, Rabenwald, Hochlantsch, Teichalpe) in the north, the Windische Bühle near Bad Radkersburg and Posruck (border to Slovenia) in the south, the Graz Basin and the Leibnitz Feld in the west, and the South Burgenland in the east.
The landscape of the apple growing area is dominated by elongated hilly crests with sunny slopes and numerous small plateaus.
Further smaller apple growing areas are located in West and South Styria.
Today about 4.5 million apple trees are cultivated in the region by some 200 fruit growers on about 1,600 ha.
Climate:
The region around Weiz is characterised by illyric climate. The average annual temperature is 8.2°C and the average precipitation is 880 mm.
Summers are mostly hot and dry showing a tendency to thunderstorms and heavy hails. Winters are rainy, mild and poor in snow.
The many hours of sunshine in summer and the significant temperature fluctuations between day and night result in apples with well-balanced sugar-acidity ratio, excellent flavour and beautifully coloured skins.
Soil conditions:
Soils of the region are free from carbonates and usually acid. Brown soils and volcanic rocks dominate. The soils are very fertile and deliver good yields.
- East Styrian apple:
Apples (Malus domestica) belong to the family Rosaceae, genus Malus.
Apple varieties:
Apple trees in extensive orchards and orchards of the region Oststeirischer Apfel encompass numerous varieties like the traditional Styrian variety Kronprinz Rudolf (LINK) and numerous ‘new varieties’ such as Elstar, Jonagold, Idared, Arlet, Topaz, and Golden Delicious etc.
The traditional varieties Maschanzker (LINK), Sommergewürzapfel, Kronprinz Rudolf, Gravensteiner, Roter Herbstkalvill, Schafnase, Weißer Grießapfel etc. are grown in extensive orchards.
Method of Cultivation:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Young trees stem from Austrian nurseries. Trees are pruned in winter and summer. Apple blossom is from mid-April to mid-May.
From mid-June onwards fruits which are deformed or damaged by pests are removed.
Intensive orchards are usually protected by nets against hail, which occurs frequently in the region.
Manuring
Apples are cultivated exclusively on areas which are listed in a farmer’s acreage index.
Soils of Styrian orchards are covered with grass which is mulched 7 - 8 times during the vegetation period. The mulching process contributes to the formation of humus and the introduction of nutrients into the soils. Thus, the need for additional manure is limited.
Soil analyses are the basis for fertilization in early spring and after harvest, if necessary. The application of fertilizers is subject to the requirements of the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme (ÖPUL).
Plant protection
Plant protection measures are permitted only if defined economic thresholds have been reached. Only pesticides which are permitted under the guidelines of Integrated Production are to be used. The application of pesticides is to be documented in the acreage index.
Irrigation
Water for irrigation is from ponds especially built for this purpose. The ponds are fed with water from springs or rain.
There may also be automatic drip irrigation during dry periods or irrigation against frost during spring.
Harvesting, storage and grading
Apples are harvested from August to October depending on the variety. Apples are picked manually and then carefully put into baskets and boxes in order to prevent damage.
After harvesting the apples are pre-graded and stored exclusively in Styria.
Apples are stored up to 8 - 10 months under controlled atmosphere (2 % oxygen, 92 % humidity and 1 - 3°C). The bigger part of the yield is stored in ten big storehouses owned by farmer cooperatives.
After storage apples are graded and then packed in crates, cardboard boxes, trays or shopping bags.
The annual apple yield is about 30 million kg.
Nutritional aspects of apples:
Apples are rich in nutrients. An apple delivers about one quarter of the daily vitamin C requirement and contains about 20 mineral substances, among them 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:
East Styrian apples are to be traceable from fruit-grower to retail. Each farmer records data on orchards, apple varieties, cultivation methods, and harvesting.
Regional processors and packaging companies keep records on the supplier, variety, date of harvest etc.
In retail the packed apples are labelled with the name and the address of the producer.
Quality:
East Styrian apples have to conform with quality class I in food retail.
Quality control:
Apple production is subject to the requirements of Integrated Production in the framework of the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme.
Apple producers also take into account the guidelines of the world-wide leading quality standard GLOBALGAP.
Moreover, ISO 9001:2000, HACCP, BRC (British Retail Consortium) and the AMA-Gütesiegel ensure that the vendor acts safely.
Apples produced under the organic scheme are controlled by accredited control bodies.
The controls concerning the requirements of the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme and the AMA requirements are conducted twice per year by independent control bodies.
- Marketing:
East Styrian apples areavailable throughout the year. The producer association Obst Partner Steiermark GmbH (OPST-GmbH) in the municipality Gleisdorf markets 75 % of the yield under the trademarks
“Frisch, saftig, steirisch” (90 %), “Von Herzen Biobauern Österreich” (organic trademark meaning “wholeheartedly organic farmers Austria”) and “Mozart” (trademark for export).
Apples are exported from Styria to more than 20 countries, predominantly to Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and the Eastern European countries. The company “EVA” exports 50 % of the total Styrian apple yield.
Regional marketing activities include a museum about fruit growing in the village Harl, in the middle of the “Styrian Apple Street”, and the apple blossom festival. The festival takes place between mid-April and mid-May around the “apple village” Puch. People can hike along the blossoming orchards and enjoy culinary apple specialties.
Distinct quality linked to origin and Traditional Knowledge
- Specific fertile soils and illyric weather conditions enable fruit growing
in extensive and intensive orchards.
- Strong link to the area: East Styrian apple encompasses the traditional
Styrian varieties like Kronprinz Rudolf which evolved over centuries as
well as numerous new varieties which are well adapted to the natural
environment and the climatic conditions.
- The unique taste and the aroma of East Styrian apples are directly
linked to the numerous hours of sunshine in summers and the significant
differences in temperature between day and night in autumn.
- The production of East Styrian apples is the result of Traditional Knowledge
passed down to those active in the sector: the Traditional Knowledge and
expertise of fruit growers (adaptation of the cultivation to the environmental
conditions, selection of local cultivars, propagation by seed and root
suckers, genetic improvement, harvesting know-how, storage), and the
expertise of wholesale buyers and retail sellers in marketing.
- Utilization:
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
A speciality is “Abakus”, a spirit distilled from a single apple variety by 23 “apple men” in an undisclosed ritual.
Regional bakeries, pastry shops and restaurants process apples to various desserts like classic apple strudel (LINK) and subtle sweets like apple tart, apple tiramisu or apple ice-cream.
Special restaurants (Apfel-Genusswirte) offer apples in all dishes of their menus.
- Protection:
Word/picture trademark “frischsaftig steirisch”(Austrian Patent Office Register No 221 066, 08/11/2004)
Word/picture trademark “Mozart” (Austrian Patent Officer Register No.)
“Von Herzen Biobauern Österreich” (EC Community Trademark No 006900849).
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, region, East Styria, apple, Malus domestica, pome fruits, Oststeirischer Apfel, East Styrian apple
Bibliography / References
- LOSCH A. Die Oststeiermark- Verapfelung einer Region?
Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des Magistergrades der Philosophie,
Wien 2005.
- 10 Jahre Höllinger: 100 % direkt gepresster Apfelsaft -
100% regionale Qualität aus der Steiermark!
http://www.gastmesse.at/apa_show.html?ap=ah.OTS0132-20081016
- Abakus - Apfelschnaps aus Puch
http://www.herzhaft.at/produkte/abakus-apfelschnaps-aus-puch/
- Apfel
http://www.pflanzenliebe.de/innen/innen_essbares/innen_apfel.html
- ApfelLand Stubenbergsee
http://www.oststeiermark.com/385_de/page.asp?id=3200
- Äpfel
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%84pfel
- Äpfel ausdünnen
http://www.bakker.ch/G_9486/%C3%84pfel-ausd%C3%BCnnen.htm
- Bio-Äpfel: 105 heimische Obstbauern heben das bisher
größte Bio-Projekt aus der Taufe
http://www.agrar-net.at/netautor/napro4/appl/na_professional/parse.php?id=2500%2C1390415%2C%2C
- Brauchtum und Tradition in der Mittelsteiermark
http://www.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/10001079/75707/
- Der steirische Apfel
http://www.clever-move.com/cms/news/aktuell/der-steirische-apfel.html
- Der steirische Apfel 08
http://www.kochenundkueche.com/Bericht/3145-251-Artikel/Der-steirische-Apfel-08.html
- Die Steiermark
http://www.hora.co.at/html/degr/steiermark.htm
- Gemeinde Puch bei Weiz
http://www.puch-weiz.at/index.php?id=352&type=98
- GENUSS REGION ÖSTERREICH – Am besten schmeckt´s daheim!
http://www.lebensressort.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/10182107/4113153/
- Geschichtlicher Background
http://www.obst-hofer.at/derapfel/index.html
- Herzlich Willkommen
Steirische Apfelstrasse
http://apfelstrasse.at/
- KIEFER I., KUNZE M. (2007). Die Kalorienfibel I, Kneipp Verlag GmbH, Leoben
- Klimainformation Steiermark
http://www.tiscover.com/at/guide/7M,de,SCH1/objectId,RGN19at,curr,EUR,parentId,RGN19at,season,at1,selBlk,CURRWEATHERBLOCK,selElem,4,selectedEntry,home/climate.html - Kronprinz Rudolf (Apfel)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronprinz_Rudolf_(Apfel)
- Kronprinz Rudolf (Apfel)
http://62.141.60.231/Kronprinz_Rudolf_(Apfel)
- Kulturapfel
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulturapfel
- Landwirtschaftskammer Steiermark – Pressemitteilungen
http://www.stmk.agrarnet.info
- MAIER-BRUCK F. Steiermark: Vorratswirtschaft. In: Vom
Essen auf dem Lande, 2nd edition, Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau,
Vienna 1995, 431
- Mittelsteiermark
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/mittelsteiermark
- NUTS-3 Region Oststeiermark (Österreich)
http://tirolatlas.uibk.ac.at/places/show.py/index?id=164;lang=de
- Obstbau
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstbau
- Oststeirischer Apfel
http://www.genuss-region.at/article/archive/11292
- Oststeirisches Hügelland
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oststeirisches_H%C3%BCgelland
- Oststeiermark
http://www.steiermark.com/de/page.asp?id=11
- SIEVERS G.W. (2007): Steirische Äpfel. In: Genussland
Österreich – Was Küche und Keller zu bieten haben, Leopold
Stocker Verlag, Graz, 439
- SPAR Qualitätsmarken. SPAR Qualitäts-Äpfel
http://www.spar.at/spar/spar_marken/spar_qualitaetsmarken/spar_qualitaetsaepfel.htm
- Steiermark
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steiermark
- Steiermark
http://peter-hug.ch/lexikon/steiermark
- Steiermark
http://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.encyclop.s/s798165.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=de
- Steirisch süss-sauer
http://www.frisch-saftig-steirisch.at/
- Steirische Apfelstraße
http://steirische.apfelstrasse.at/
- Tag des Apfels
http://www.hagel.at/site/index.cfm?objectid=E583DA75-3005-96D1-4E94DD885D933940&refid=45560201-3005-96D1-4EBE7C56FFA1AEC9
- Unser Apfel schmeckt weltweit
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/nachrichten/wirtschaft/handel/1619340/index.do
All internet references last accessed on 1 July 2009.
Language Code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
Regional contact
Josef Hirt
Tourismusverband ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee
(Tourism Association ApfelLand-Stubenbergsee)
8223 Stubenberg am See 5
Phone: 0043 3176-8882
E-Mail: info@apfelland.info
www.apfelland.info
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Mag. Doris Reinthaler Dr. Erhard Höbaus
06.08.2010, Lebensministerium III/4