Since the middle of last month, the process of seasonal reduction in the price of watermelon has accelerated in Moldova. Nevertheless, during the last week of July, as noted by market traders, the first signs of this season’s price stabilization for this commodity appeared. The average wholesale price for watermelon in large cities of the country in early August does not fall below 5 lei/kg ($0.28/kg). Moreover, farmers are trying to at least slightly raise the prices of their products. EastFruit analysts believe that there are grounds for such attempts.
Firstly, large specialized farms have been exporting vegetables and gourds to Ukraine for over a month. Some have already sent dozens of trucks loaded with watermelon to the Ukrainian market. By the beginning of August, the two-fold difference in prices for watermelon in Moldova and Ukraine remains, which means that the supply of Moldovan watermelon to the Ukrainian market will continue. At the same time, there are few unharvested melon plantations in Moldova.
Secondly, according to tradition, the diaspora returns to Moldova for the holiday period in August, which stimulates the country’s domestic market demand for fruit products, incl. for watermelon.
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And thirdly, in August-September, Moldova will probably have to rely only on gourds for its production. You can still find Uzbek watermelon in the local market, imported into the country at the beginning of the season. The price for it is slightly lower than for local watermelon. But the import of watermelon to Moldova from Central Asia is already unlikely.
