It seems that Hungarian peppers really are world-famous. Local media have revealed that a pair of Japanese farmers will soon arrive in the country to attend a week-long intensive survey of pepper-growing down in Szolnok, with the aim being to learn some lessons that can be applied in their pepper greenhouses back in Yudza, a Tokyo exurb that is a “twin city” of Szolnok’s. Oddly, the story says that the two women comprise the fourth such group to arrive with the intention of figuring out how Hungarians make such a mean capsicum. Now if only these visitors would help us convince folks out in the countryside that there are ways to prepare fish other than by deep-frying them or boiling them into mush. [inforadio.hu]
Their people are world famous for doing this sort of thing- traveling the world in groups, gaining admittance to factories and centers of production, taking lots of pictures, gleaning techniques and secrets that they can take back home and utilise for their own economic strength. They have grown so much in wealth and sophistication over the years that they don’t do this quite so much as they did, say 20 or 30 years ago. They come to Hungary with the intention of learning what secrets they can, then going back to Japan and producing their own version of paprika which will then compete with the hungarian variety.
How I wish Hungarians would show more of this kind of spirit, drive and methodicalness. How different they are from us! A world they couldn’t conquer with arms, they set out to win through commerce. We won’t be winning anything by either way I’m afraid.