This is how organic works: Successful for 50 years with the path of sustainability
Certified organic vegetables have been grown on the Appler-Wach family’s organic farm in Arzl near Innsbruck since 1972. And the Appler-Wach family has been running their stand in the Innsbruck market hall for 46 years.
INNSBRUCK. Anyone who regularly goes shopping in the farmers’ hall of the market hall knows “the Loni”. And she knows her customers – after 46 years through and through, with all taste preferences and also with many a life story. On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., everything from artichokes to courgettes in the best organic quality is offered in the market hall.
“I am happy to take the 50th anniversary of our organic farm as an opportunity to say thank you to our loyal customers. Many of them are already with us in the 2nd and 3rd generation. The next two generations are also at our stand with my son Christoph and grandson Johannes.”
Over 50 different types of vegetables thrive on the extensive fields in and around Arzl. Almost everything that is seasonal is produced: potatoes, salads, peppers, kohlrabi, carrots, beans, cabbage, various pumpkins, herbs and much more. “More than 30 head of cattle in the barn ensure that we have sufficient organic fertilizer available to enable a continuous circulatory system on the farm. On the other hand, organic bacon and organic butter are made from it.”explained Loni Appler Wach.
Tyrol’s oldest organic farm is in Innsbruck, Link
Organic pioneer since 1972
Luis Wach – Founding member and first provincial chairman of Bio Austria – converted the family farm to organic in the early 1970s. The farm has been the first recognized organic farm in Tyrol since 1972. Luis Wach is celebrating his 87th birthday and together with his family he can look back on an eventful life with ups and downs. After taking over the farm, his first step was to do without chemical sprays. Obtaining organic seeds has proven to be difficult:
“Back then, the plants had to be grown from seeds themselves, since there was no plant material to buy,” he says. “At that time, mainly untreated, pure seed was still available on the market and there was little variety. The varieties were coarse and didn’t have the flavor potential they have today for a long time.”
The family propagated the cabbage and turnip seeds themselves. Organic sauerkraut became a bestseller in the branches of various grocers and at many inns in Austria. Sauerkraut and potatoes were the main source of income in winter, along with red cabbage, black radishes and turnips. In addition, Luis Wach kept five dairy cows and the corresponding offspring.
criticism and interest
At first, the family’s ecological commitment was viewed critically and smiled at, but mostly dismissed as crazy. Loni Appler-Wach, for example, reports on a curious legal dispute:
The Wach family took the liberty of taking care of her Organic sauerkraut to ask 10 pennies more than the state price board specified. They were reported for this and taken to court. A lawyer from Schladming had agreed to represent the family free of charge. A verdict was reached after a good two years. The verdict is: “It is right that you can charge more for organic products.”
This judgment was immensely important for the Austrian organic movement – a precedent was thus at hand. The first positive media reports on the organic farm appeared in the mid-1970s. “Organic farming was popular with people and also became credible,” says the organic farmer. And with the opening of the market hall stand in 1976, a large number of regular customers could be registered after a short time.
future
After daughter Loni is also grandson Christopher Apple got into agriculture. Although he never wanted to be a farmer and instead wanted to study law, he discovered a love of farming and changed his mind. Busy years followed, during which work was done on the management concept, investments were made and the area under cultivation was doubled.
“We never gave up the range of products,” he explains. The market hall is ideal for variety, the food retail trade helps us to handle volumes.”
The organic box from Appler-Wach, all information
In his old age, Luis Wach is very satisfied with how he is now: “I see every day that I didn’t write for nothing. The organic farm is a matter close to my heart and is run the way I imagined it to be!” Christoph Appler considers it important to work independently in agriculture: “The freedom to make decisions as a farmer is something great, with all the consequences. Back then, my grandfather took the only correct and sustainable path of agricultural production, I’m sure of that!” Loni Appler states:
“Despite the beatings we have been accused of and the many difficulties we have faced, we are emotionally strong and confident that we are on the safe side of farming with organic.”
The Appler-Wach family meanwhile has a business size of 35 ha and farms about 50:50 as grassland or arable land. In addition to growing vegetables, 18 dairy cows and 20 young cattle are kept in the new pen. The organic food is sold in the Innsbruck market hall and via the Bio Box Tirol. Other buyers of the quality products are canteens and regional supermarket chains.
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