Hungary is preparing for its weakest apple harvest in recorded history, as poor weather and a reduction in orchard area impact volumes, according to Világgazdaság.
"This year is shaping up to bring the lowest apple yield ever recorded in Hungary," said Ferenc Apáti, president of FruitVeB, the Hungarian Interprofessional Organization for Fruit and Vegetables, in an interview with HAON in Hajdú-Bihar County.
Based on surveys of growers, producer organizations, traders, and processors, the forecast is for around 160,000 tons of apples this year, about half of last year's already historically low yield. Of that total, only 60,000–80,000 tons are expected to be suitable for the fresh market, with 80,000–100,000 tons destined for industrial processing. "That means table apple production will reach just 55–65% of what we see in a good year, while the industrial apple yield will only be 20–25% of its typical potential," Apáti said.
The projected output falls well below domestic demand. Hungarian consumers typically require 110,000–120,000 tons of table apples annually, while processing plants are able to handle 350,000–400,000 tons. Both sectors ideally should be supplied with at least 90% local production.
Apples are currently grown on about 20,000 hectares in Hungary, half the area cultivated two decades ago. Despite the smaller land base, production potential in a good year still stands at roughly 500,000 tons, including 120,000–130,000 tons for the fresh market and 370,000–380,000 tons for processing, mostly for juice concentrate.
The weakest harvest in recent decades was in 2022, when 280,000 tons were picked. Last year, the crop reached 342,000 tons, including 232,000 tons for juice, 20,000 tons for other industrial use, 65,000 tons for fresh consumption, and 25,000 tons for export.
FruitVeB attributes this year's poor outlook mainly to adverse weather. Spring frosts, a lack of sunlight in May, and heatwaves in June were identified as the most damaging factors. Although growing and ripening have proceeded at a normal pace this year, unlike last season's accelerated schedule, FruitVeB cautions that actual yields and the ratio between table and industrial apples may still shift depending on weather conditions in the coming weeks.
Apáti added that in three or four years out of every five, actual yields tend to fall short of early forecasts because weather is more often unfavorable than favorable. Harvesting of summer apple varieties has already started in small volumes, with peak picking taking place in late August.
Source: Hungary Today