Sustainability and Cycles at the Apple Farm

anyone who works with nature needs composure. The weather is what it is. Day by day it can surprise, challenge, delight. When the climate changes and with it the long-term conditions of nature, composure alone is not enough. You have to take action. Our approach, our ideas and measures.

\u201cRitten is my home. I grew up here on the farm. That farming is a give and take has always been normal for us.\u201d Thomas Kohl has lived and worked at the orchard long enough to see how the symbiosis with nature has changed over time.

That, too, has always been the case. Thomas Kohl: \u201cWeather is one thing, climate another. The start of the harvest, for example, has shifted somewhat over the years. That will continue. The actual date for the start of harvest then depends on the weather.\u201d

Doing good by nature means securing the future for the farmer. Many ecologically effective measures have been in place for a long time. Others we are currently implementing or planning.

Of Bees & Flowers in the Apple Orchard

Without bees, no apples \u2013 that much is clear. When spring arrives, the great buzzing begins in our apple orchards. However, nowhere near enough bees come on their own for the pollination work. So our neighbour brings beehives and places them right in the middle of bee paradise.

The proverbially and literally industrious bees pollinate the apple blossoms and thus make apple growth possible in the first place. In the process, they collect honey, which we then sell in our shop. Our favourite example of a regional partnership that contributes to a sustainable ecosystem.

What Remains of the Apple

Our apples take a little excursion: from the orchard they first go to the press. What remains after pressing is called pomace. We deliver this to farmers in the village, who value it highly as animal feed. From these same farmers we receive valuable manure \u2013 and with that we pamper our apple trees. A clever cycle that nourishes both the soil and our hearts!

Energy from the Sun: Photovoltaics

Over 300 days of sunshine per year combined with fresh mountain air and our precious water \u2013 ideal conditions for our apples. But we wanted more: to capture the light of the sun and use it for energy production.

The photovoltaic system on the roof covers almost our entire energy needs. This sustainably reduces our carbon footprint. This is how our apple juice becomes true \u201cSunshine in a Bottle\u201d!

Eliminating Plastic

Plastic simply does not suit us. For two years now, we have been shipping online orders plastic-free. We protect the bottles with a bubble wrap made of paper. And we seal the cartons with paper adhesive tape. This way, the apple juice travels safely and sustainably.

Out of the Box: Apple Paper

Imagine this: you have ordered plenty of apple juice from our online shop. The postman rings twice and brings the parcel. You remove the paper tape and free the bottles from their paper sleeve. There you discover a flyer that we include. The flyer is made of apple paper, produced by a South Tyrolean manufacturer from apple remnants. Our letterhead, envelopes and business cards are also made from this creative material. Good for the environment and very charming.

Paper Neck Wrap

Our small bottles have sported a smart paper neck bow for about a year. And soon we will be able to convert our 750 ml bottles as well. This means the plastic capsule is a thing of the past.

The Apples of the Future

Our journey towards sustainability is a continuous process. We are constantly looking for innovative technologies and methods to make our cycles ever more complete. From efficient water management to resource-saving production processes \u2013 our goal is sustainability in every step of production.

\u201cEvery sip of my premium apple juices stands for pleasure paired with responsibility and respect for nature. Today we are setting the course for apples that will not hang on the trees for many years to come.\u201d

- Thomas Kohl