The border village of Bene, Beregovsky district, Transcarpathian region is considered to be a peach paradise. This year, local producers are unhappy with the harvest: due to weather vagaries, it is too scarce.
The Pak family from Bene has been growing peaches for 30 years. This year, gardeners hope to collect at least 1.5 tons of fruit from 300 trees, which is 2 times less than in the harvest years.
Ferenc Pak says that the weather affected the productivity, in particular, the hail fell heavily spoiled the peaches. Despite crop failure, fruit prices did not rise, but even fell. This is earned only by resellers who buy peaches from gardeners at 18-20 UAH / kg, and sell at 35-40 UAH / kg.
The peach harvest season in Ben begins in June and lasts until late autumn. From sweet fruits, the family makes various goodies for the winter. Zhuzhanna Pak says that growing peaches is a family business in which spouses rely on the help of their son.
Almost all locals are engaged in the cultivation of peaches in the village. They sell their crops along the road near their homes. Most often tourists buy peaches. Sometimes it is possible to sell up to 100 kg a day, Marta Birov says. In addition, fruits are sent in bulk to Lutsk, Lviv, Kharkov and Kherson.
They even make vodka from peaches in Ben, and also conduct a thematic festival where they choose the peach king.
