The quality of domestic cherries is outstanding, and Hungary is still one of the most decisive players in the European Union in the cultivation of which, said Minister of Agriculture István Nagy in a video published on social media.
The head of the ministry said that Hungary is a silver medal cherry producer in the EU, in second place after Poland. The quality of Hungarian fruit is not only special, but also its taste is unique.
The color, taste, berry size, seed-meat ratio and texture of the Hungarian varieties are superior to their foreign competitors, so they are sought after in the processing industry as well as in the fresh market.
he added.
István Nagy highlighted:
Cherries should preferably be eaten fresh, as this is how their physiologically beneficial properties can be utilized with the best efficiency. He explained that the conscious decision is to consume domestic fruits harvested at their natural ripening time.
Transporting thousands of kilometers carries risks and plays a significant role in climate change, he said, adding that harvesting fruit when it is not fully ripe reduces the enjoyment value of the fruit and the length of the transport route makes it significantly more expensive.
Not to mention the monitoring of the traceability of production and plant protection rules outside the EU and the risk factors that occur in their absence. If we want to be conscious customers, we should eat and buy domestic seasonal fruit, because it is a controlled and safe product from the farm to the table. By choosing domestic products, we support not only the livelihood of Hungarian farmers and families, but also the entire national economy
- added the minister.
He emphasized:
a significant part of the domestic cherry, about 50-75 percent depending on the vintage, is an export product.
Fresh cherries account for 25 percent of exports, canned cherries account for 70 percent, and frozen cherries account for 5 percent. Hungary plays a leading role in the EU trade in canned cherries.
Our most important target market is Germany
He explained that due to last year's drought, this year's frosts and the unusually cold, rainy weather that is favorable for fungal diseases, a slightly lower yield than last year's can be expected. The quality of the fruit is excellent despite the fact that the start of the season was delayed by 1-2 weeks due to the cold weather, the minister pointed out.
Featured image: Délmagyarország/Frank Yvette
