We can expect a long apricot season

(Photo: AM/István Fekete)

The head of the ministry said that the apricot season started earlier this year and may last longer. In Hungary, 1,731 producers are currently engaged in the cultivation of this fruit, on a total of 4,938 hectares. In recent years, the cultivated area has shown a significant increase, rising from 4,000 hectares to 5,000 hectares between 2013 and 2024, which shows the growing popularity and economic importance of the culture. He added that the cultivation of apricots is an important part of Hungarian agriculture due to its diversity. The Ministry of Agriculture is working to ensure that producers can increase their yield under the most stable conditions possible and receive adequate support for their development – stressed István Nagy.

The minister explained that the apricot harvest shows a large deviation between vintages, while the average harvest in recent years was between 15,000 and 17,000 tons

This year, due to climate change, the harvesting of early varieties began earlier, in the second half of May, and farmers expect an average of 16,000 to 18,000 tons of fruit. The main apricot growing areas are in the counties of Bács-Kiskun, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Fejér, Pest, Somogy and Tolna. István Nagy reminded that, within the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy, the Ministry of Agriculture has built a significant support system for apricot growers, which supports the development ideas of enterprises with a resource intensity of at least 50% and a maximum of 65%.

The subsidies extend from the purchase of the seedling to the production of the processed finished product

The government remains committed to supporting the cultivation and processing of apricots so that Hungarian agriculture becomes more competitive on the international market. When eaten fresh, apricots are an excellent source of antioxidants, with a high content of beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E. It plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and in maintaining our general health, underlined the head of the ministry.

AM