Italian apple growers have managed to stay in business by improving production efficiency. But Kurt Werth, who was for many years a leader with the fruit growing advisory service in the South Tyrol area, believes that future profitability will depend on changes in marketing rather than production techniques. Over the past 30 years, the average price per kilo received by growers in the South Tyrol, Italy’s main apple-growing region, has dropped from 83 eurocents to 38 eurocents (U.S.$1.00 to $0.49 per pound), adjusted for inflation. Werth said growers have been able to remain competitive by increasing the efficiency of their […]