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The quality of Hungarian sour cherries is outstanding, and Hungary remains one of the European Union’s leading producers of this product, said Agriculture Minister István Nagy in a video published on social media, reports Magyar Nemzet.
He noted that Hungary is the silver medal cherry producer in the EU, second only to Poland. The Hungarian fruit is not only unique in quality, but also in taste. The color, flavor, size, seed-to-flesh ratio, and texture of Hungarian varieties are superior to foreign competitors, making them sought after not only by the processing industry, but also on the fresh market.
István Nagy explained that sour cherries should preferably be eaten fresh, as this is the best way to make the most of their physiologically beneficial properties. He stressed that the conscious choice is to eat domestic fruit harvested at the natural ripening time.
Transporting them over thousands of kilometers poses risks and contributes significantly to climate change,
he said, adding that harvesting at less than full ripeness reduces the enjoyment value of the fruit, and the length of the transport route makes it significantly more expensive.
Not to mention the risks associated with the lack of traceability of production and plant protection rules outside the EU.
“If we want to be conscious consumers, we should consume and buy domestic seasonal fruit, because it is a controlled and safe product from farm to table. By choosing local products, we are not only supporting the livelihoods of Hungarian farmers and families, but also the entire national economy,” István Nagy added.
He stressed that a significant proportion of domestic sour cherries, between 50 and 75 percent depending on the vintage, is exported. Fresh sour cherries account for 25 percent of exports, canned sour cherries for 70 percent, and frozen sour cherries for five percent.
Hungary is a leading player in the EU trade in cherry jams. Germany is our most important target market,” the Minister noted.
“Due to last year’s drought, this year’s frosts and unusually cold and fungus-friendly precipitation, this year’s cherry crop is expected to be slightly lower than last year. Fruit quality is excellent, despite the fact that the cold weather delayed the start of the season by a week or two,” the Minister concluded.
Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image via Facebook/Príma Fertőd
