From kindergarten kitchens to Coca-Cola – gardeners found new markets

“From now on, the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Dunaharaszti will produce its apple juice using Hungarian apples instead of imported ones”, announced the Minister for Rural Development in Dunaharaszti, while the first tanker containing apple concentrate arrived at the plant from Szabolcs, Hungary's main apple-producing region.

“The Government concluded a Cooperation Agreement with Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Limited a few months ago, and as a result, and as one of the first steps in this cooperation, the company will be accepting 7500 tons of Hungarian apples each year”, said Minister Fazekas.

“Fruit grown in Hungarian orchards is made into concentrate at the Agrana processing plant in Vásárosnamény, from which Coca-Cola's Cappy brand fruit juice is then produced. This means that some 1.5 percent of the half a million tons of apples grown in Hungary each year has found a permanent and secure recipient. According to plans, this quantity will later be doubles, and 15 thousand tons of apples each year will be processed at the plant in Dunaharaszti”, explained the Minister.

“This apple transaction may provide a boost for fruit production in Hungary, the importance of agriculture will increase, and the current 36 thousand hectares of orchard will be expanded with the establishment of new ones. This also serves as an economic model: products grown locally may become competitive on the international market with the help of large corporations.”

“As a result of the agreement concluded with Coca-Cola, 100 families in the Szabolcs region have acquired a secure income”, noted Minister Fazekas.

“Coca-Cola Hungary also plans to conquer export markets with the fruit juices it will be producing using Hungarian apples”, said József Tarsoly, the head of the company. According to plans, after apples, the production of Cappy peach, apricot and grape fruit drinks will also switch to using Hungarian ingredients. Coca-Cola's bottling plant currently employs 1250 people and provides a living for a further 17 thousand people.