Following this publication, the authorities of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country, may lodge, in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) an opposition with the Commission within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Obst vom Bodensee’

EU No: PGI-DE-02820 – 2.12.2021

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name of PGI

‘Obst vom Bodensee’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Germany

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

Combined nomenclature code

08 - EDIBLE FRUIT AND NUTS; PEEL OF CITRUS FRUIT OR MELONS

0808 - Apples, pears and quinces, fresh:

0808 10 - Apples

0808 30 – Pears

3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

Fruit, namely apples and pears. The Obst vom Bodensee PGI may be used for apples of the species Malus domestica Borkh. and their associated clones and mutations, and pears of the species Pyrus communis and their associated clones and mutations. Both types of fruit must be grown in the defined geographical area and meet the quality characteristics set out below.

In principle, both types of fruit are Class I and the class indications are based on the classification laid down in the relevant current EU Regulation applicable to each type of fruit. The quality characteristics may differ within the limits of the legal tolerances.

Class II is permitted for the above-mentioned types of fruit if their devaluation to Class II is due solely to hail damage, russeting or frost damage, and the Obst vom Bodensee Marketinggesellschaft mbH marketing committee recognises, at the beginning of the marketing season, that there is a legitimate interest in marketing Class II. In the case of organically produced fruit, the corresponding provisions of Class II are applicable.

Obst vom Bodensee always has a higher acidity than fruit grown in areas with warmer climates. Sweet varieties have a particularly fruity taste if their sugar content is balanced with their acidity. This harmonious interaction between sugar content (sugar binds aromas) and acidity (acid gives liveliness) is typical of Obst vom Bodensee. On the whole, Obst vom Bodensee is therefore exceptionally aromatic. The colouration of Obst vom Bodensee’s epicarp is excellent and above-average, especially for the dominant colour. This is described in more detail in the tables below.

Obst vom Bodensee is distinguished by the following qualitative characteristics:

Variety Apple	Calibre	Colour group / minimum surface colour typical of the variety	Minimum Brix value	Minimum acidity g/l	Firmness Kg x cm2
Gala	60 -85	According to mutant of colour group A, B or C: A/ 1/2 of total surface red coloured B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured C/ 1/10 of the total surface area slightly red coloured, blushed or striped	11,5	1,5	5
Minneiska / SweeTango®	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	2,5	5
Sunspark / Sprizzle®	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	1,5	5,5
Caudle / Cameo®	60 -85	According to mutant of colour group A or B: A/ 1/2 of total surface red coloured B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	2	4,5
Fuji / KIKU®	60 -95	According to mutant of colour group A or B: A/ 1/2 of total surface red coloured B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	1	5,5
Prem A96 / Rockit®	40 -70 M - miniature variety	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	2	6,5
Elstar	60 -90	C/ 1/10 of the total surface area slightly red coloured, blushed or striped	11,5	2,5	4,5
Pinova / Evelina®	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	2,5	6
Jonagold	60 -90	C/ 1/10 of the total surface area slightly red coloured, blushed or striped	11,5	2,5	4,5
Red Jonagold / Red Jonaprince®	60 -90	C/ 1/10 of the total surface area slightly red coloured, blushed or striped	11,5	2,5	4,5
Nicoter / Kanzi®	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	4	6
SQ159 / Natyra® / Magic Star®	60 -90	A/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	12	3	4,5
Xeleven / Swing®	60 -85	A/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	12	3,5	7,5
Boskoop	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured, russet variety	11,5	3	4,5
HS 66 / Fräulein®	60 -90	B/ 1/3 of total surface mixed red coloured	11,5	3,5	6

Variety Pear	Calibre	Colour group / minimum surface colour typical of the variety	Minimum Brix value	Minimum acidity g/l	Firmness Kg x cm2
Alexander Lukas	55 -90	50 % smooth russeting	11	Not measured for pears	4
Conference	55 -90	50 % smooth russeting	11,5	Not measured for pears	4
Cepuna / Migo®	60 -85	50 % smooth russeting	11,5	Not measured for pears	4
Williams Christ	55 -85	50 % smooth russeting	10,5	Not measured for pears	4
Xenia®	60 -95	50 % smooth russeting	11,5	Not measured for pears	5

3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

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3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

The following steps in production and marketing must take place in the defined geographical area:

Fruit cultivation

3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

All procedures at the recording points / packing stations – recording, storage, sorting, packing and dispatch – are carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Qualitätszeichen Baden-Württemberg [Baden-Württemberg quality label] and IFS quality assurance systems and have the corresponding certificates.

They therefore involve the following tasks:

Verifying compliance with the requirements of the EU marketing standard or the UNECE standard and the above-mentioned fruit sizes, and any deviation from them, and documenting the results.

Ensuring that single-use packaging can be recycled or using industry-standard reusable packaging.

The product is produced, stored and packed in accordance with the guidelines for the Baden-Württemberg quality label, as well as QS-GAP or GLOBALG.A.P., with the corresponding certificates. The Baden-Württemberg quality label, IFS and QS quality assurance schemes apply to marketing of the products. This means, in particular, that the quality requirements must be met, as regards production, for fertilisation, plant and soil protection, labelling, storage, transport and packaging for example, and, as regards marketing, for incoming goods inspection, labelling, product specification, traceability and exit of goods.

As the quality standards guarantee the distinctive quality of the fruit, recording must take place at recording points / packing stations in the defined geographical area. This encompasses the visual inspection of product safety, quality, completeness and integrity of fruit, the recording of production, quantities delivered and quality standards, the designation of the storage facility, the labelling of individual boxes in the case of producer delivery and sorting by size and colouration.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

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4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The ‘Obst vom Bodensee’ designation identifies fruit produced in the Lake Constance region. The geographical boundaries of the geographical area are formed by the rural districts of Bodenseekreis, Konstanz, Ravensburg and Lindau.

5.   Link with the geographical area

The link between Obst vom Bodensee and the geographical area is based on the quality conferred by the specific climatic and geographical conditions, and on the knowledge built up and adapted over time by producers during the long tradition of growing them.

(1)   Specificity of the geographical area

Altitude

The Lake Constance production area has an altitude of 400-700 m above sea level.

Temperature

The annual average temperature is 8-9 °C, with a very high annual average temperature variation of 18-19 K. The fruit production area is influenced by the Azores High, particularly during the growing season. In October, we are again seeing the highest monthly averages at the lake itself. The upper atmospheric layers are still relatively warm. The Azores High transports air that has been heated above the Gulf Stream to Europe, resulting in calm weather that is conducive to plant growth. The high average temperatures mentioned show its influence in the geographical area. This has not changed despite recent general climate changes. It is still the case that relatively cooler nights are followed by warm days, especially in late summer and autumn, i.e. during the period when the fruit ripens. This creates the high variation in temperature between day and night that is typical of Lake Constance.

Soil characteristics and quality

Lake Constance acts as a thermal reservoir that traps heat in summer and releases it over the autumn and winter months. These ideal climatic conditions for apple and pear cultivation are unique and characteristic of Lake Constance. They are a positive factor creating favourable growing conditions.

Precipitation

Precipitation in the western part of Lake Constance ranges from 750 mm to 800 mm a year; moving east it rises to 1 400 mm per year as the altitude increases. Apples grow in the humid and temperate climate zone, preferring areas with high precipitation and humidity, and the Lake Constance area, with an average of 950 mm rainfall and high humidity levels, as well as sufficient warmth and sunshine, provides optimum conditions for them to thrive. About two thirds of precipitation falls during the growing season. This means that not only can the water requirements of the pome fruit trees be fully met, but there is a surplus for the grass cover.

The constant and ample supply of water that is characteristic of Lake Constance, with the associated optimal absorption of minerals, leads to steady fruit growth during the growing cycle and uninhibited absorption of minerals, meaning fewer physiological diseases during storage.

Risk of frost and cold air

Frost occurs on an average of 80-90 days a year, with values varying from one region to another. In winter, Lake Constance releases the heat that it has stored over the summer. This prevents severe frost damage to fruit crops.

Likewise, the late frosts feared during the flowering period are also for the most part kept at bay by the effect of Lake Constance as a thermal reservoir. In accordance with its elevation, flowering in the Lake Constance area occurs later than in the other fruit-growing areas of south-west Germany.

Wind

The Lake Constance climate is essentially influenced by land and lake breezes. The lake breeze occurs during the day and is strongest in summer, especially in August and September. It blows cooler air masses from the lake to the shore area. The land breeze occurs mainly at night and during the winter months. The thermal reservoir of the lake reduces the force of the winds, which are often harsh in winter. This mitigates severe frosts, which can damage the trees.

(2)   Specificity of the product

Obst vom Bodensee is characterised by quality criteria such as strong colouring, an intense aroma and skin resistance, and often small-celled fruit; this has been repeatedly observed in scientific publications for about 90 years. ‘Small-celled’ in this context means that the cell structure is finer, which has a positive effect on the fruit flesh texture, aroma and taste.

(3)   Causal link

The climatic conditions and the quality of the soil in the Lake Constance region, combined with a rigorous approach to quality established over many years, make it possible to produce Obst vom Bodensee of particularly high quality.

The quality approach was put in place at an early stage and the producer groups check that their members comply with it, allowing a large quantity of Obst vom Bodensee of consistently high quality to be produced that is accepted by wholesale and retail businesses. ‘Obst vom Bodensee’ thus became established and well known in Germany and abroad. The location favours the growth of fine-celled fruit. Dipl. Ing. Agr. Karl Stoll of ETH Zürich says, in a different context, that the growing of much larger fruit leads to ‘qualitative disadvantages, such as a flattening of the aroma’, etc. Moreover, he states that: ‘The Cox Orange variety, which is adapted to the cooler maritime climate, grows larger in very warm growing areas, but loses its specific aroma.’

The warm autumn allows Obst vom Bodensee to ripen perfectly. The warm autumn is very favourable for the ripening of Obst vom Bodensee and for winegrowing. The large variations in temperature between day and night produce good colouration and an intense aroma. Moreover, as the third largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Constance has an exceptionally large water volume due to its particular size (63 km long, 40 km wide with a maximum depth of 251 m). This means that its balancing and retarding effect on the ambient temperature is also exceptionally large. This geographical and climatic specificity has a clear impact on the fruit grown there and leads to the above-average colouration and intensification of the aroma. Because it is the anthocyanins from the flavonoid group that are essentially responsible for the development of the colour pigments in the fruit skin. In particular, the temperature during fruit ripeness has a significant influence on anthocyanin synthesis, because the accumulation of substances conferring colour is closely correlated with the prevailing night temperatures. Cooler nights, followed by warm days, which is typical on Lake Constance in late summer and autumn, encourage the formation of a strong dominant colour in Obst vom Bodensee. The high variation in temperature between day and night in the Lake Constance region thus creates the ideal conditions for the formation of the strong dominant colour of the fruit flesh. The firmness of the flesh is also due to the increased accumulation of anthocyanin. In addition, cell division depends on temperature. The high variation in temperature leads to favourable conditions during the cell division phase and the subsequent cell growth phase. As the moderating lake climate prevents extreme weather, uniform cell growth is also ensured. Thus, the natural conditions result in small-cell fruit or fruit with a finer cell structure with the specific characteristics of Obst vom Bodensee as described above.

The weather conditions prevailing in the Lake Constance region also contribute to the development of the taste quality. Sensory studies show that sugar and acid composition play a major role in Obst vom Bodensee’s taste quality. The accumulation of various sugars and acids in Obst vom Bodensee due to the photosynthesis rate of the trees and the deterioration caused by fruit respiration are essentially temperature-controlled processes. The warm daily temperatures and abundant sunshine in the Lake Constance region stimulate the trees’ photosynthesis rate and consequently sugar and acid production. The comparatively lower night temperatures slow down the fruit’s process of cellular respiration. Obst vom Bodensee reverts to favouring organic acids as the substrate for cellular respiration. It can therefore be concluded that the climate conditions in the Lake Constance region stimulate acid formation in Obst vom Bodensee and contribute to the comparatively lower rate of deterioration. Consequently, this means that the fruit has a higher acid-sugar ratio and thus Obst vom Bodensee has a unique and acidic flavour.

Due to the particular geographical location, there are very few crop failures caused by frost or the influx of cold air. During the growing season, the wind is beneficial in reducing pest infestation and accelerating the drying of the fruit.

Growing recommendations in accordance with the current state of the art are regularly drawn up and updated in a tripartite advisory system consisting of highly qualified official advisors for all rural districts in the protected area, private consultants and specialist fruit-cultivation advisors from the cooperatives, coordinated and scientifically monitored by the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau – Bodensee (KOB) [Lake Constance Centre of Excellence for Fruit Cultivation]. Genetically modified varieties are excluded. In accordance with the requirements of integrated and controlled cultivation, organic plant protection measures and mechanical weed control are preferred.

The human influences on the product and its distinctive quality are manifested in the aforementioned tripartite advisory system. The long-standing tradition in this respect is quite exceptional. In the Lake Constance region, fruit cultivation was already practised in monastery gardens around the year 800. Commercial fruit growing began around 1900 and already involved the first fruit-growing consultants. In 1910, the Königlich Bayerische Obst- und Weinbauschule [Royal Bavarian School of Fruit Cultivation and Viticulture] was founded in the rural district of Lindau. The Lake Constance technique of fruit tree pruning was developed and tree wardens were trained. Through this meticulous care given to the trees, better and more consistent yields were achieved. With the establishment of an experiment station by the University of Hohenheim in Bavendorf in the rural district of Ravensburg in 1959, scientific monitoring of fruit cultivation on Lake Constance has been supported from an early stage. The basic research was translated into practical fruit cultivation through applied research and consultancy. In 1989, a maturity index was developed, which combines the refractometer value as a fruit quality characteristic and flesh firmness and starch breakdown as maturity characteristics. In this way, the optimum maturity date of Obst vom Bodensee can be determined. All of this know-how is put into practice by producers in the region as gardeners specialising in fruit cultivation or as expert fruit cultivators. At the same time, through events and trade fairs, as well as newsletters and guidelines, the producer group ensures that all producers are aware of the growing recommendations in accordance with the current state of the art. These recommendations are drawn up and updated in a tripartite advisory system consisting of highly qualified official advisors, private consultants and specialist fruit-cultivation advisors from the cooperatives, and coordinated by the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau – Bodensee (KOB). This ensures that the best Obst vom Bodensee with its distinctive quality can be harvested in autumn.

The optimal harvesting times for Obst vom Bodensee are determined phenologically and on a variety-specific basis using relevant scientific methods. In order to preserve the quality of the fruit, Obst vom Bodensee is immediately placed in controlled-atmosphere (CA) or ultra-low-oxygen (ULO) storage, or similar.

Reference to publication of the product specification

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/geo/detail.detailtabelle.pdfdownload/42159__;!!DOxrgLBm!EkSkt8GnMkAOteOH6Qq1lEl7_CU3TG9jxYGGjBovwQ4o6jv3OclvBcr909CLpPT7LVCZlNDdgIhjwICq449zE2J5IBLCvNuTxbf6q-U$

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(1)  Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 (OJ L, 2024/1143, 23.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1143/oj).