Despite the colder weather and rains, apple harvesting in some Moldovan farms is still under way, according to EastFruit. Considering the information obtained to date on the apple yields, experts from fruit growers’ organizations in Moldova are inclined to conclude that the initial optimistic forecast will most likely come true.
Let us recall that in August 2023 at the Prognosfruit conference organized by the World Organization of Apples and Pears (WAPA), Moldova announced a forecast for apple production at around 548 thousand tons, 100 thousand tons more than in 2022. However, in late summer – early autumn, the harsh and long drought has forced some Moldovan experts to adjust the forecast downwards to 480-500 thousand tons.
However, from late September weather has improved and feedback from farmers was generally positive. Although a share of small-size apples, as well as varieties from orchards that were not popular on the European and Middle Eastern markets, were immediately sold to processing factories for the production of apple juice concentrate, many market players noted a much higher than expected supply of fresh market apples as well.
Increased production is a good news for Moldova, considering short apple supply in the EU and globally and bullish trends on the markets of industrial apples.
Apple production in Moldova in 2022 amounted to about 446 thousand tons, down from 650 thousand tons in 2021, and slightly more than 430 thousand tons harvested in 2020. In 2019 Moldova harvested 610 thousand tons of fresh apples and in 2018 – 665 a record volume of thousand tons.
Read also: Shortage of export quality apples in Türkiye makes it source from Ukraine and Moldova
Since then Moldova has greatly reduced the area of apple orchards, uprooting mostly older, non-intensive and non-irrigated orchards with varieties, which could not be sold anywhere but in Russia. Presently the country is trying to find alternative markets, following the success of Ukraine’s apples globally.
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