The plum season is full of challenges, it is questionable whether there will be enough jam

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 08. 29. 12:03

Weather conditions are not entirely favorable for plum cultivation. The cool spring and early frosts had a negative impact on the pollination process, and the rainy season during flowering made it difficult to protect against monilia infection. As a result, a lower than average harvest is expected, which can be between 40-50 thousand tons.

Hungary’s climate is generally suitable for plum cultivation. The plant tolerates the cold well, and its early spring flowering rarely suffers from frosts. At the same time, due to the shallow root system, a prolonged lack of rainfall can have a negative effect on it. At the same time, the size of the production area has decreased slightly in recent years, but production is becoming more intensive, focusing on plantations suitable for hand picking. According to the latest data, approx. Plums are grown on 5,848 hectares in Hungary.

The largest growing area is in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, where plums are grown on 1,636 hectares. Bács-Kiskun and Pest counties are also significant plum growing areas. Various types of plums ripen from mid-July to October. It makes up a significant part of industrial processing and is an excellent raw material for jams, preserves and brandies.

This year, an important question for both jam makers and fruit growers is whether there will be enough fruit to make jam. The plum growing situation and the amount of the harvest can affect the production of jam and the development of prices.

According to the latest prices published in the article of Hello vidék, the price of plums in rural markets is currently between HUF 350-600 per kilo, depending on the variety.