The future of producer organisations in Hungarian fruit and vegetable production

Magda, Sándor – Gergely, Sándor

Keywords: marketing, fruit and vegetables, levels of organisation

This paper is intended to help Hungary ascend to the position due to it in the domestic and international market of fruit and vegetables. It is not enough to be aware of the relative benefits we have in this field (as well). It is not enough to be aware that we are able to produce fruit and vegetables with wonderful flavour, fragrance and aroma. It is not enough to have several hundred years of history in the production of fruits and vegetables. All this is not enough: it is with great sadness that one has to see that we fail to exploit the opportunities offered by the European Union market of nearly 500 million, or the potential market of another 150 million east of us at a manageable distance. The population of Hungary should also consume more fruits and vegetables in order to lead a healthier life. The net export of Hungarian horticultural products could be two or three times higher than at present. Equally important, this would create several tens of thousands of sustainable jobs, mostly in micro-regions where jobs are the scarcest. This, however, remains just a vision until producers of fruits and vegetables coordinate their efforts better and create producers organisations – of the first, second and third category. Otherwise we will not even be able to maintain our position in the domestic and export markets, let alone achieve any degree of expansion for the Hungarian fruit and vegetables industry.

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