Asparagus season starts in Hungary: export powerhouse or gastronomic opportunity?

Early start to the season, pick your own now!

Although the asparagus season officially starts at the end of April, thanks to the mild weather, the first fresh shoots have already appeared on the domestic markets. Bács-Zöldért Zrt. has already launched this year’s first “pick your own” campaign in Borbás, where asparagus can be picked for 1,500 forints per kilo. The vegetable is available at the Kecskemét market for 2,500 forints/kg, which is still more affordable than many imported alternatives.

The pick-your-own option not only means a more favorable price, but also a direct connection with the producers and the farmland – which is increasingly valuable these days.

We are strong in asparagus – just not in consumption

Hungary is the sixth or seventh largest asparagus-growing country in the EU, with 90 percent of production concentrated in Bács-Kiskun and Csongrád-Csanád counties. Production began to increase around 2015, then declined during the COVID epidemic, and asparagus is now grown on approximately 2,000 hectares.

Despite the fact that the domestic climate and soil structure are favorable for production, domestic consumption is low. Yet asparagus is not only tasty, but also a real vitamin and mineral bomb.