Peak harvesting of walnut began last week in Moldova. Basically, early local varieties of walnut are now harvested from orchards (Peschansky, Kazaku and some others varieties). The quality is high. However, in the orchards where mistakes were made in the plant protection by fungicides, the yield of Peschansky walnut turned out to be 20-30% lower than it was forecasted in summer (0.7-1 t/ha). At the same time, experts of the Union of Association of Producers of Walnut Crops of the Republic of Moldova note that both the quality and yield of the later walnut varieties, especially Fernor, Franket, Chandler this year will be significantly higher than last year. Thus, we cannot talk about a decrease in the 2021 walnut harvest in Moldova.
Earlier EastFruit reported that during the annual National Conference of Walnut Growers, the chairman of the branch union of associations Oleg Tyrsine stated that this year the walnut harvest will be “at least 30% higher than last year.” In 2020, according to statistics, the gross harvest of walnuts (in shells) in Moldova amounted to almost 15 thousand tons. This is significantly lower than the average volume – about 25 thousand tons, harvested in the country over the past five years.
It should be noted that according to expert estimates, a significant share, from a third to a half, of all exports of the nut industry in Moldova are still harvested in forests and alleys along the roads. In most cases, there is little or no care for these walnuts trees. Consequently, the yield and quality of such walnuts are unpredictable.
The first price discussions of walnut growers, exporter and traders have already taken place, but the range of purchasing prices in-shell walnuts and walnut kernels is still unknown. Starting wholesale prices are very likely to be 15-20% higher than last year (in September).
Walnut growers consider the wholesale price for the highest quality kernel (light halves) in the range of 120-130 MDL/kg ($ 6.79-7.35/kg) to be fair for the current season. In September last year, the wholesale price for walnut kernels was in the range of 80-90 MDL/kg ($ 4.70-5.29/kg), and only in the spring of this year it stabilized at around 100 MDL/kg ($ 5.55/kg ) average. The maximum level of starting wholesale prices for walnut kernels in Moldova was recorded in 2014 – about 140 MDL/kg ($ 8.75/kg).
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