The warmer spring weather and fewer days with sub-zero temperatures in Hungary is pointing towards a return to a potentially normal apricot harvest for the first time in over three years producers in the country say. "If the warm weather holds for the rest of spring the apricot sector could see some recovery after three years of frost damage and disaster that hit up to 30% of production," says Máté Tömösváry, from the co-operative Balaton-ker-Tész.
"The apricots looks very nice. The last few years we have had some frost damage during winter. Every year in December and January it was a bit warmer then the very cold weather sets in during February and March. By the time spring came we already had some 20-30% damage. Every year we have around 10-11 days of damaging frost. This year we only had three days of frost when the weather was under 0 degrees. Right now there is a very small possibility of some freezing days coming over the next few weeks. We are hoping for a good normal season for once," says a hopeful Tömösváry.
He says the effects from the damage, season after season has started to take its toll on the income of producers. "Right now the weather is good for us, the last three years was not good for us in Hungary. However, over these last three days the frost has already made some big damage in apricot orchards in the middle and North of Hungary. In our areas next to Lake Balaton conditions are normal this year. Although we are not the biggest producers, due to damage in other areas our area becomes more relevant. Farmers decide to grow fruit several years ago. Right now we have very big orchard in this area."
Tömösváry says they hope to start Hungary's apricots harvest later next month. "Hopefully we can start the harvest with the early varieties at the end of May. We export to Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia, and the main countries in the EU. If production is good we will send to the northern regions like Lithuania too. If nothing happens this year the Hungarian market will be interesting. Some buyers came to our area already. The export markets are ready every year to receive our production. Hopefully we will reach the 3,500 tons in this year also like two years ago."
Hungary's national production more than 10,000 tons. Balaton-ker-Tész Also harvest and export some cherries of between 500- to 800 tons, plums and sour cherries of 1,500 tons. He says harvesting and returning to higher volumes of apricots is not bad. "If we have this amount of apricots it does not mean prices will be lower. The market will show us in the first few days what the price level will be. We work on getting more market share, its gives us the opportunity to be more relevant in the market for producers and suppliers," states Tömösváry.
For more information:
Máté Tömösváry
Balaton-ker-Tész Co-operative
Tel: +36 20 422 7200
Email: balatonkertesz@gmail.com