The Consortium VOG, which is based in Terlano, South-Tyrol, Italy, and in 2008 from South-Tyrol exported some 295,000 tons of apples to Europe and Mediterranean Countries, is the winner of the "Grappolo d'oro Export" (Golden Grape Export), the award bestowed every year to the best Italian exporter of fruit and vegetables according to quantity, quality and innovation standards.

The jury, composed of the President of Fruitimprese Luigi Peviani, the chairman of the Italian Fruit and Vegetable Service Center (CSO) of Ferrara, Paolo Bruni, and the Director of the specialized magazine Corriere Ortofrutticolo, Lorenzo Frassoldati, was unanimous. The prize is awarded today October 6 in Cesena, during the first European Fruit Summit, organized by CSO and Macfrut, before experts from across Europe.

The Grappolo d'oro Export award was established in 2003 under the patronage of the Ministry for Agriculture. The previous editions were won by Peviani group (Milan), Mazzoni Group (Ferrara), Praxair Technology, Inc. (Cuneo), Oranfrizer SpA (Catania), Bollettini SpA (San Benedetto del Tronto) and Almaverde Bio (Cesena) .

VOG exports 50 percent of their production to 30 Countries, mainly to Germany, Scandinavia, Great Britain; the Consortium opened new marketing channels in the Mediterranean and in Central and Eastern Europe, while it is approaching to the Russian market. VOG's apples account for 25% of the whole Italian harvest and about 8% of apple crops in Europe. 19 cooperatives are members of VOG, and 5600 family firms. In the 2007-2008 season its turnover reached 450 million euros.

VOG can boast many strengths: varietal richness (with 11 different kinds of apples marketed), geographical indication of the entire production, strict quality controls, strength of the organic products line, advanced marketing, they all make this organization of fruit and vegetable growers an example to follow not only in Italy but internationally as well.
 
The President of VOG Georg Koessler and the Director Gerhard Dichgans will receive the award.