The OVEG cooperative was founded on 2 March 1963, but it was especially during the last 20 years that fruit and vegetable growing experienced an enormous upswing in the area of Oris, Cengles, Prato and Sluderno.

Due to optimal climatic conditions and the composition of the ground (900 – 1,200 m above sea level) the Upper Val Venosta has become one of Italy’s most important cultivation areas for cauliflower. In addition to cauliflower, the farmers also cultivate other vegetable varieties such as Iceberg lettuce, radicchio trevisano, white cabbage, celery and leek as well as strawberries and cherries

The relatively young field of fruit growing has also developed positively. The most important variety is Golden Delicious which here finds the ideal climatic conditions for its typical red cheek, its elongated form and the inner values. It is therefore predestined for this cultivation area.

Due to its altitude the area also offers best conditions for Jonagold apples characterized by a nice colour, an extremely high pressure resistance and an optimal sugar/acid ratio. The assortment is rounded off with Stark Delicious, Elstar, Gala, Idared and Pinova.

In 1997, the ALPE and OVEG cooperatives started a long-term cooperation because of market strategic and business reasons: both cooperatives show similar general conditions (homogenous, adjacent cultivation areas, mixed cooperatives for fruit and vegetables, high growth potential and the same fruit and vegetable assortment).

The total cultivation area of both cooperatives, which is further expandable, is 1,000 ha and stretches from the high plateau and the sunny hills of Lasa to Sluderno and Glorenza. More than 300 members produce fruit, vegetables and berries nearly exclusively according to the guidelines of integrated production. Furthermore, the majority of fruit production follows the GLOBALGAP guidelines.