Hungarian melon season starts with high-quality melons

(Photo: AM/Tibor Vermes)

István Nagy said at a press conference held at the Lidl Hungary logistics center that currently more than 1,300 farmers grow watermelons and 310 cantaloupe. The number of watermelon growers has increased by nine percent compared to last year, and the number of cantaloupe producers by fifteen percent. Currently, watermelons are grown on 3,590 hectares, and cantaloupe on 707 hectares; While the watermelon production area remained the same, that of cantaloupe increased by sixty-two percent compared to last year – the Minister of Agriculture explained. István Nagy also spoke about the fact that Hungary’s melon export opportunities are still available, with Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland being the main target countries. Melon exports increased by 31 percent last year compared to the previous year – he added. István Nagy stated that in the domestic watermelon trade, supermarkets account for 60-65 percent and markets, greengrocers and roadside sales account for 35-40 percent. He added that the annual per capita consumption of watermelons ranges between 10-12 kilograms and 1.5 and 2.2 kilograms of cantaloupe.

MTI