Figs are a complimentary crop in Hungary, with fig trees planted in gardens in the country's warmer South-Western regions, and near Lake Balaton. However, with the changing climate, alongside oleanders, figs are one of the Mediterranean plants that can safely survive the growingly mild winters of Hungary.
Agrárszektor.hu recently interviewed Zsolt Medve, one of the pioneers of fig cultivation in the country. According to the expert, the first figs were brought from Italy to Hungary in the 15th century by King Matthias Corvinus. There still are fig trees in the Buda Castle district, although whether these are the descendants of the figs of King Matthias is uncertain, Mr. Medve told the portal. At least one tree in the castle is 160 years old however.
Mr. Medve told the portal that although there are a few fig orchards in the country, Hungary is not yet a substantial fig-producing nation. Fig plantations mostly serve the demand of their local markets. However, with the changed climate, there is less and less frost damage in the winters, with increasing yields year after year.
Another issue is that an industry needs to be organized around fig production. Figs are not a typical market fruit, as they do not ripen after being picked, says the expert. Therefore, they need to be harvested when they are fully ripe and in this state they cannot be stored for more than a few days. They spoil easily, making it challenging to establish a system where this type of fruit can cover larger markets. What also complicates commercial fig production is the fact that figs continuously ripen throughout the season, making it impossible to harvest the produce at once, which means that orchards need to be scoured each day, consuming a lot of labor hours.
Small-scale cultivation already exists in the country, Mr. Medve told the portal. There are also businesses which process figs and manufacture fig-based products. However, there is still plenty of room for the development of domestic fig cultivation, says the expert.
Source: AgroBerichten Buitenland