Fruity Diversity for Retail: Environmentally Conscious Strawberry Production in Hungary

Photo: Port International (from left to right: Philippe Peiró, Ákos Hivekovics, André Lüling)

Port International announces new Exclusive Partner Farm: The Hivekovics Family Orchards in Kisrécse, Hungary. This partnership marks a significant step towards sustainable agriculture while providing a wide range of high-quality strawberries for the European market.

With over 300 employees on-site, Hivekovics Family Orchards produces over 400 tons of strawberries annually on 14 hectares of land. Efficient tunnel systems counteract frost, rain, and excessive heat, thereby increasing productivity and extending production times from early in the year to late autumn. The goal is to increase annual quantities to over 1,000 tons with an additional 17 hectares.

Video ABOUT Hivekovics

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Port International collaborates with Hivekovics Family Orchards to test various strawberry varieties on-site to expand product diversity for supermarkets. One of these test varieties is ‘Candela’, known for its intense flavour, long shelf life, and high resistance.

Photo: Port International (Strawberry variety Candela)

The Location: Hungary

The farm is located in Kisrécse, Hungary. Ideal conditions such as the early onset of warm temperatures and a sufficient water supply compared to other European regions make it uniquely suitable for strawberry cultivation. In addition, the proximity to customers in the Central European market allows for harvesting and delivery on the same day, ensuring absolute freshness for the customer.

Focus on Environmental Awareness

Ákos Hivekovics, CEO of Hivekovics Family Orchards, has been advocating for the protection of our planet’s natural habitats for over 25 years. He founded the farm to promote sustainable agricultural practices and create a better future.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our efforts. We aim to reduce the use of groundwater and surface water and avoid the use of chemicals. Our strawberries are irrigated with collected rainwater, and we are investing in the development of a large water reservoir to cover up to 100 % of our water demand on the farm,” comments Ákos Hivekovics.

Furthermore, the producer relies on organic techniques to maintain soil quality and ensure soil with natural nutrients.

“Having Hivekovics Family Orchards in our Exclusive Partner Programme is another milestone on our journey towards a more sustainable future. We are proud to offer high-quality strawberries together that are not only delicious but also grown in an environmentally friendly way,” comments Philippe Peiró, one of the Managing Directors of Port International European Sourcing GmbH.

Learn more about Port’s exclusive partner in this video.

Contact

Carolin Pahmeier
Head of Marketing
carolin@port-international.com

Social standards accepted by Port International for high and medium risk countries:

  • Amfori BSCI
  • Fair for Life
  • Fairtrade Flocert
  • GRASP
  • Naturland, Naturland Fair
  • Rainforest Alliance (RFA)
  • SCS Sustainability Grown
  • Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)
  • Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000)
  • Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA)

Additional standards for low-risk countries:

  • Bioland
  • Biopark
  • Gäa
  • QA FIAS
  • Fair Produce Sandard (Mushrooms)

Social standards accepted by SIFAV for high and medium risk countries:

  • Amfori BSCI
  • BRCGS Ethical Trading and Responsible Sourcing Standard
  • Fair For Life
  • Fairtrade Flocert
  • Rainforest Alliance (RFA)
  • SCS Sustainably Grown (certification)
  • Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)
  • Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000)
  • Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA)
  • Sustainably Grown

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Fruity Diversity for Retail: Environmentally Conscious Strawberry Production in Hungary

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