NEW YORK (VINnews) — Hungary has opened its first Cholov Yisroel dairy production facility, a development that Jewish leaders say will significantly expand kosher access for the country’s growing Jewish community and visiting Israelis.
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The new dairy, called Garaboncias, is located about 70 kilometers from Budapest and will produce locally supervised kosher milk, yogurt and cheese for the first time.
The certification effort was led this week by Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Rubin, a prominent halachic authority in Mehadrin kashrut. Rubin traveled to Hungary to inspect the plant, review its production systems, and provide training for onsite supervisors. He was joined by his son, Rabbi Ze’ev Rubin, and kashrut specialist Rabbi Binyamin Neufeld, who assisted in the oversight and evaluation process.
The initiative was organized by EMIH — the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities. Chief Rabbi Slomo Köves, the group’s leader, said the goal is to expand locally produced kosher food and reduce reliance on imports. He noted that producing dairy domestically is expected to lower costs and make kosher more accessible.
Until now, Hungary’s Jewish population and visiting Israeli tourists have depended largely on imported long-life milk from Belgium and France.
The Garaboncias plant’s opening marks the first time Hungary will offer fresh Cholov Yisroel dairy products produced under continuous rabbinic supervision.
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