Spring frosts, a cool May, drought, and extreme temperature shifts during summer have resulted in Hungary's lowest recorded apple yield, according to a joint survey by the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture and FruitVeB. Final harvest data are pending, but growers estimate that production in the 2025 season will be just under 160,000 tons, about half of the already low volume harvested in the previous year.
Of the total, around 60,000 to 80,000 tons are expected to be table apples, and 80,000 to 100,000 tons industrial-grade fruit. This places domestic table apple volumes at 55 to 60 per cent of a normal year, while industrial apples are at 20 to 25 per cent of the usual crop. The most severe damage was caused by frosts in early April and on May 10. Losses increased further in June due to heat waves, high UV levels, and the drought that began in early spring. Growers report that unirrigated orchards and plantations on sandy soils were the most affected.
Apple cultivation currently covers about 20,000 hectares in Hungary, roughly half the area recorded twenty years ago. In a favourable season, production potential would be around 500,000 tons, with 120,000 to 130,000 tons of table fruit and 370,000 to 380,000 tons destined for processing.
Idared remains the most widely grown variety, as its cultivation and yield stability align with the country's climatic conditions. Jonagold, Gala, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious are also common, and new varieties continue to enter production.
The surveyed organisations report that yield losses in both table and industrial fruit categories fall well below domestic demand. Hungary requires around 110,000 to 120,000 tons of table apples for local consumption and 350,000 to 400,000 tons for processing capacity. Industry representatives note that domestic production should ideally meet at least 90 per cent of demand in both categories.
They also state that multiple factors contributed to the low harvest. The prolonged drought and heat stress that continued for nearly three months last summer and into early autumn likely affected flower bud development despite rainfall later in the year. Growers and industry groups continue to assess how reduced production will influence supply availability and processing operations during the current season.
Source: Hungary Today
