Moldova to gain largest apple harvest in recent 10 years in 2018

Chisinau, 24 August /MOLDPRES/ – In 2018, Moldovan producers will get the largest apple harvest within recent 10 years, according to forecasts of the Association of Fruit Producers and Exporters of Moldova – Moldova Fruct (APEFM).  

"Moldova will harvest over 505 thousand tonnes of apples this year. We are talking about the biggest harvest within 10 years," said executive director of the above-mentioned Association, Iurie Fala.

According to cited source, Moldova's apple harvest will be of good quality, except for certain regions in the northern part of Moldova that was affected by hail.

"If we talk about prices, the market situation is influenced by a few regional factors: if last year we exported over 10 thousand tonnes of plums to EU countries that were affected by frosts, they have excess fruit in current year. If we talk about the Russian market – the country is going through some economic phenomena: following sanctions, the rouble is devalued and its purchasing power decreases. Additionally, growing crops in Russia slows the pace of exports," said Iurie Fala.

The head of Moldova Fruct said that the members of association would store a large part of the fruit harvest in the refrigerators and sell them later, when the prices increase.

Some large apple harvests are also expected in EU countries. Europe will record in 2018 a production of over 12 million tonnes of apples, 13 per cent more than the average of recent three years. Russia will get a harvest of 200,000 tonnes higher than in 2017, and Ukraine and Romania will harvest each 100,000 tonnes more. Similarly, China will register a decrease of about 28 per cent, said a press release issued by APEFM – Moldova Fruct.

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor M. Jantovan)