Good practice:

APPLE ORCHARD IN DERECSKE: COMPLEX TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BASED ON AGRICULTURE AND GASTRONOMY

The family business, which owns the apple orchard in Derecske, strives to respond the problem of losing contact between nature and people. The apple orchard in Derecske is situated 20 km from Debrecen, the second biggest city in Hungary. The company produces apples and processes the fruits to high quality juices, which are sold at the domestic and international markets.
The first initiative to utilize the orchards for tourism purposes started in 2015, when thematic programmes about sustainable agriculture (growing fruits) were introduced targeting children and families. Since then, educational activities as well as entertaining programmes have been organized to provide hands-on experience on growing and processing apples in an environmentally conscious way. In 2017 the old inn at the orchard was rebuilt into a modern and unique restaurant and also a special shop where local products (jams, juices, snacks, etc.) are sold. The restaurant offers a high quality, fine dining experience using local ingredients and the newest culinary technologies. A new event hall with the capacity of 500 people was opened in 2016. As a result of the new investments 30 new workplaces were created. The restaurant and the thematic programmes in the orchard attract visitors from the country, so not only the local community but also a much wider public benefit from the project.

Gastrotourism project (rebuilding restaurant, new event hall, educational and entertainment activities): approx. 1,300,000 EUR private investment; 600,000 EUR EU funding is expected for completion. Human resources: project managers, employees for catering, „animators”: teachers and a biologist.

Practice may serve as a model to demonstrate that several aspects of economy (e.g. agricultural production) may be turned into an attraction arising the interest of the wider public. Educating people about sustainability in a practical and interactive manner is highly important. The orchard, where the educational activities are held, receives 6,000 visitors/year on average, but with the opening of the restaurant and event hall this number is expected to grow. About 30 new jobs were opened.

Solid financial basis required; having financial resources is a challenge; other sources can apply as well. Acquisition of highly skilled, motivated human resource is also difficult. Educating visitors about sustainable agriculture in an interactive way needs creativity, planning.

This practice shows a good example for connecting the values of past traditions with the present production and consumption patterns, responding to the future challenges. The advantages of the traditional ways of growing apples are preserved and demonstrated to the public, while the novelties of the modern production methods are also demonstrated, thus creating an interesting tourist attraction. The concept of the newly opened restaurant is also worth noting. It is a hybrid concept, which implies that the owners wish to diversify their customers’ experience: on the one hand they cater for the fast food customers who stop by and grab a meal, while on the other hand they provide a fine dining experience for the ’foodies’ – both types of customers are served high quality, locally sourced meals. The educational activities about apple production and the culinary experience form the basis for the complex tourism product, which targets the environmentally and health-conscious market segments.