Apple, the protection of nature

Zsolt Feldman, the State Secretary responsible for agriculture and rural development of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that apples are one of the most frequently purchased foods in Hungary. In addition to fresh fruit, it can also be consumed as dried fruit or processed in the form of juice.

The fruit grown on an average of 23,000 hectares per year is primarily sold on the Hungarian market

The state secretary emphasized that it is important for consumers to be aware of the excellent quality and high content of Hungarian apples. The Ministry of Agriculture considers it a priority task to respond, among other things, to alleviating the difficulties caused by climate change and to help growers with various subsidies, by modernizing apple orchards and building cold stores, thus guaranteeing domestic supply. Dr. Ferenc Takács, the vice-president of FruitVeB, emphasized that although this year, due to the difficulties caused by various harmful natural phenomena and the reduction of the cultivation area, the lowest harvest of the past 15 years is expected, the production of Hungarian table apples covers 100% of consumption. The decrease in quantity specifically applies to fruits intended for industrial use. The vice-president emphasized that this is why the subsidies provided by the Ministry of Agriculture are so important, since with their help, farmers in the European Union’s overproduction are able to find the niches that are adapted to today’s needs and serve as a lifeline for the sector.

Péter Ondré, the managing director of AMC, emphasized that the company has been running a campaign since 2016 to promote domestic fruit and vegetable consumption

The work seems to be paying off, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased continuously – to 250-300 grams – in recent years (the WHO recommendation is 300-350 grams). The executive emphasized that the most important consumer action towards growers is to look for, buy and consume domestic products. The work of farmers is the guarantee of our self-sufficiency, which we consumers can best thank by providing them with a stable and predictable market. In addition to being a real vitamin bomb, apples have a beneficial effect on maintaining our general health, and are also particularly important in strengthening the immune system in the fall.