Research on high-altitude fruits

Theodor Wimmer
Oct 2, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Regional apple varieties ©Naturpark Ötscher-Tormäuer

Despite the harsh altitude, fruit growing has always been practiced in the Ötscher region, but mainly for self-sufficiency and as a subsistence farm.

Due to the lack of pressure to optimize fruit growing, old, sometimes rare species and varieties adapted to the altitude and climate were able to develop and survive – high-altitude fruits.

High-altitude fruit refers to fruit species and varieties that are adapted to the harsh climate, even at higher altitudes above 600 meters above sea level. These are characterized not only by greater robustness and an adapted ripening time, but also by increased frost and snow tolerance (see Spornberger et al., 2021).

In addition to the known benefits, these varieties may also have abilities that we are not yet aware of, such as special ingredients or better tolerability.

The goal of the "Hochlagenobst" project is to identify these varieties in close cooperation with regional fruit tree owners and to preserve them for the future through a conservation program. Furthermore, the aim is to increase knowledge about the trees and fruits themselves, as well as their care.

For this to succeed, in addition to imparting knowledge, people's appreciation for fruit and its associated benefits must also be increased. This is the only way to ensure the sustainable preservation of orchards and trees. Numerous activities are organized throughout the year as part of the project: a fruit tree campaign to plant site-appropriate fruit trees, variety identification, an old tree pruning course, a grafting course, and fruit pressing with the mobile fruit press. The events throughout the year are listed on the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park website.

As part of the project, extensive reports on the topic have already been published - these are available for download to the interested public.