Climate change is reshaping Hungary's horticulture, with new crops such as figs, kiwi, and sweet potatoes becoming increasingly feasible, says Ferenc Apáti, the head of FruitVeB, Hungary's largest fruit and vegetable growers' alliance. A decade and a half ago, no one in Hungary was planting sweet potatoes... Figs, which previously couldn't bear fruit in North-East Hungary, produced fruits twice last summer.
Despite the absence of droughts in 2023, fruit trees are still recovering from the 2022 drought. However, this winter saw enough precipitation, and with the weaker harvest of the previous year, the trees have "rested." If the orchards are spared from spring frosts this year, a good harvest is possible, Apáti stated.
Tomato prices in Hungary are also following a major European trend, with the price of cluster tomatoes falling significantly. At the Budapest Wholesale Market, the price of imported first-class tomatoes fell from €2.99-€3.51 per kg at the start of January to €1.95-€2.60 per kg by January 28. Currently, there is no Hungarian produce on the market.
Source: www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl