The challenger. Tobias Mitterrutzner

It’s the home of Tobias and his family. Or actually extended family, as his parents also live on the farm and his brother and sister built their homes right next door. Tobias’ own family is actually very small and very new: little Lia is only 10 months old. He is very proud of her. And he is also proud of his apples, which he grows on around 6.5 hectares. Proud of his apples and that he had the courage to convert to organic cultivation.

His father Paul had dairy cows on the farm and some grapes. Then he bought more and more land, and started growing apples. Tobias helped wherever he was needed. He finished school and also helped other farmers on the side. He has been a partner in the farm since 2015, and runs it together with his father. Paul is slowly considering transferring the entire farm to his son – in one or two years he may be ready.

The father and son are a good team. Without wasting too many words, they both understand what the trees and orchard need. “The two of us accomplish a lot,” said Tobias. And when his brother Manuel has time, he enjoys helping out too. With thinning out in the summer or during the harvest.

He had no idea that the challenge he found would take on the dimensions of a conversion to organic cultivation. But Tobias was convinced from the very beginning, and his father gave him his full support. They didn’t think about it for long and instead jumped in, feet first. That was back in 2017. Tobias and Paul had to master the challenge the hard way – no doubt about that – but they learned a lot, know their apples and the orchard now, and are aware of the tricky aspects that will confront them in the course of a year. They find out which varieties are in demand and do not hesitate to say goodbye to good varieties that are no longer popular. They replace them with varieties that consumers want and with those that are more resistant than others.

On steep hills, they’ve replaced apples with grapes and now grow apples where grapes are still growing. They constantly optimise. They use protective nets in bad weather, exchange information with other local organic farmers and help one another. They even “infect” each other with organic methods: for example, the farmer next door now swears by organic apple cultivation, too. Tobias is not a lone wolf – on the contrary. As a member of the organic cultivation board upon which an elected representative from each of the 11 South Tyrolean cooperatives serves, Tobias represents Brixen. The panel meets every month and the members discuss a variety of matters, from marketing to storage or logistics. Tobias is also a member of the local fire brigade. He is a fireman, on the brigade board and even has a title: Vice Commander.

But let’s return to Bachmannhof Farm and the 6.5 hectares of organic apples: Gala, Bonita, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Natyra® and a few more. The apple orchard covers 6.5 hectares, and one hectare of land is devoted to grapes: Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Kerner, Veltliner and Sauvignon. They keep a small portion for themselves and have a local vineyard turn the lion’s share into premium wine. Tobias has more of a penchant for the apples. He has nothing against working with grapevines; it’s fine for the interim and a nice change from apples. Apples, grapes and the fire brigade.

And now little Lia. The next big challenge. Another challenge that Tobias is passionate about. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.