Prolonged rains recorded in Moldova at the end of May and beginning of June may further complicate the already difficult sweet cherry season. According to EastFruit, citing Logos Press, excessive moisture could negatively affect both the quality and marketability of early cherries, while the sector is still assessing the impact of spring frosts on later export-oriented varieties.
The most vulnerable segment is the so-called “farmers’ sweet cherry” — early local varieties, usually of smaller caliber, which are mainly sold on the domestic market. Heavy and persistent rainfall during ripening increases the risk of fruit cracking, quality deterioration, and lower commercial yields. For small growers who rely on quick sales in local markets, this may result in additional losses and price pressure.
The situation is even more challenging because Moldova’s sweet cherry sector had already suffered significant damage earlier in the season. According to previous reports from the Moldova Fruct Association, spring frosts seriously affected plantations of late varieties of foreign selection, including Kordia, Regina, and Ferrovia. These varieties traditionally form the core of Moldova’s export potential in the sweet cherry segment.
Preliminary expert estimates suggest that yield losses in orchards planted with late varieties may reach 40–70%. Against this background, prolonged rainfall is becoming another risk factor for the season, especially for producers who were hoping to compensate part of the losses through domestic sales of earlier cherries.
In a normal production year, Moldova harvests around 15,000–20,000 tonnes of sweet cherries. The total area under sweet cherry orchards in the country is estimated at 5,300–5,500 hectares.
Last year, Moldova exported around 8,000 tonnes of sweet cherries, which was approximately 2,000 tonnes less than in the previous season. Given the current weather-related challenges, export volumes in 2026 may come under additional pressure, while competition for high-quality fruit could intensify.
For Moldova’s cherry growers, the 2026 season is shaping up as one of the most complicated in recent years: frost damage has already reduced the potential of premium export varieties, while prolonged rains now threaten the quality and profitability of the early domestic-market crop.
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