Mr. Lesina Debiasi, even in your 80s, you still tend to your apple trees several times a week. What brings you joy in doing so?
I grew up on a farm with eleven siblings, and the 3,500 m² apple orchard in Galsaun, a small part of Castelbello, has been in my family for generations. Until 1993, I worked at a gas station, but I always enjoyed working in the orchard. In 2019, we converted to organic farming and later planted the Royal Gala variety. Even now, at 83, I still manage the orchard mostly on my own – I only ask for help when mowing or harvesting. I’m with my apple trees every two or three days.
Organic farming requires a lot of care and observation – you really need to check almost daily what the trees need. Watching them grow and seeing the apples develop is something that continues to fascinate me. Since my orchard is small, I can really keep an eye on every single tree.

What changed for you after switching to organic farming?
My whole attitude towards nature has changed. I now pay more attention to even the smallest things. For instance, I make sure the ground in the orchard stays clean. I always collect and reuse the plastic ties used to support the branches. I never even noticed them before! I’ve also changed in my daily life – I drive very little and produce electricity with a photovoltaic system.

What makes Val Venosta an ideal region for growing apples?
The altitude of Val Venosta ensures the high quality of the apples. We have large temperature differences between day and night: sometimes the apples are covered in a light frost in the morning, which is good for them. Plus, apples here take more time to ripen, and fully ripened apples are, in my opinion, healthier and taste better. It’s important to me that people receive healthy, high-quality fruit from me.