Melon season is in full swing

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 08. 11:56

The cultivation of melons in Hungary shows significant progress this year, thanks to the development of cultivation technology and the expansion of the selection of varieties. Minister of Agriculture István Nagy announced in a video published on social media that this year high-quality Hungarian melons and cantaloupes will be available on the market two weeks earlier than usual.

The early arrival of Hungarian melons is made possible by favorable weather conditions and the absence of frost damage, thanks to which the cultivation conditions were ideal. The minister added that the sunny, warm weather helps increase the sugar content of melons, so Hungarian melons will be especially sweet and juicy.

István Nagy also mentioned that the export of watermelons increased to 47,000 tons in 2023, and the value increased by 85 percent compared to the previous year. The aim is further export growth, especially to geographically close countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland, where transport costs are lower.

The popularity of melons is also strong in the domestic market; the consumption of watermelon is 10-12 kilograms per person per year, while that of cantaloupe is 1.5-2.2 kilograms. This year, watermelons are grown on a total of 3,665 hectares and cantaloupes on 436 hectares in Hungary, with the participation of more than 1,400 producers. The area of production has been significantly expanded in the past year, which makes it possible to harvest 160-180 thousand tons of watermelons.