Arad marketplaces are full of melons imported from Hungary as local merchants have seized the opportunity to retail ripe melons from Hungary rather than wait for the local melons to become ripe. The produce is delivered by minibus or car from Hungarian towns in a range of up to 70 kilometers. One such vehicle sometimes makes up to four trips per day ensuring a profit of up to 500%.
The melons are bought for the equivalent of approximately 0.24 RON and sold for 2-3 RON but the business is set to decay as local melons are close to ripeness. Nonetheless, some of the locals pass the marketplace and go to Hungary themselves for shopping or prefer to wait for the local produce rather than pay extra for imports.