Nature is in a hurry: the berry season starts earlier

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 10. 12:04

As a result of this year’s warm winter and mild spring, nature woke up early and the season of most fruit varieties started about 10-14 days earlier than usual. This is also true for berries: raspberries, blackberries, currants and gooseberries also began to ripen before their time. According to the forecast of the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy and the Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Association (FruitVeB), we can expect a moderately good harvest of berries this year.

Declining cultivation areas

The cultivation of berries has declined in Hungary in recent decades. Raspberries are now only produced scattered, larger plantations are rarely found in the country. Raspberries are grown on 16 hectares in Nógrád county, 10 hectares in Heves county, and 7-8 hectares in Zala and Vas counties. In addition to climate change, the high labor demand of manual harvesting and high labor costs also contributed to the reduction of raspberry cultivation areas.

Currants are in a better position

Currant cultivation is in a better position as mechanized harvesting is fully developed. Currently, it is grown on approximately 1,000 hectares, with an average yield of 6 tons per hectare. Blackberries are grown nationally on 30-40 hectares, the average yield per hectare is much higher than that of currants, ranging between 10-20 tons. On the other hand, our cosmetology production has declined dramatically: ten years ago, it was cultivated on 100-150 hectares, today there are barely 10 hectares left.