Stefan, you switched from being a bricklayer to an organic farmer. How did that come about?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in agriculture, so I attended the Agricultural and Forestry School Fürstenburg in Burgeis. After that, I completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer and worked in construction for ten years. But I was always more passionate about farming than building sites. In 2025, I took over my father Josef’s farm and have been a full-time organic farmer ever since, with his active support. We also rent out two holiday apartments on the farm, which are managed by my wife Karin.

Have you been growing organic apples for a long time?
My grandfather still kept livestock, and later my father specialized in integrated apple production. When I took over the farm, I decided to convert to organic. Even with good preparation, the transition wasn’t easy and we had to accept some financial losses. But I’ve never regretted the decision – and I wouldn’t want to work in any other way.

Why did you choose organic farming?
A colleague of mine has been farming organically for over twenty years and showed me that it works. That convinced me to go organic as well – primarily to protect the environment and preserve the balance of nature. I want to leave my two sons healthy soil and the opportunity to build a future in agriculture.

What are the main challenges?
It’s certainly demanding work. During flowering, I check the orchards once or twice a day. When pests appear, it's important to act early with gentle methods. In organic farming, you have to accept a certain level of risk. If nature doesn’t cooperate as hoped, you simply have to accept it.