Moldovan producers to harvest about 670,000 tons of apples in 2019 - forecasts

Chisinau, 30 September /MOLDPRES/ - Moldovan producers this year will get a harvest of apples of about 670,000 tons - a quantity almost similar to the one from the year before, according to forecasts by the Moldova Fruct Association of Fruits Producers and Exporters.   

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the director of the Association, Iurie Fala, has said that 200,000-240,000 tons of apples out of all the harvested ones would be exported, 370,000 tons will be processed and another 60,000 tons will be meant for domestic consumption. According to Fala, most Moldovan apples are exported to Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.    

Iurie Fala noted that, in 2019, because of the weather conditions, the quantity of apples meant for processing would increase. “We have quality production; yet, nevertheless, more apples will be meant for processing, as orchards were hit by hail in some regions, the pollination took place in colder conditions than usually, which influenced the formation of fruits and the rains from the last spring and the beginning of summer made more difficult the implementation of protection measures against diseases and pests,” the director of the Moldova Fruct association said.       

Iurie Fala also said that processors were suggested an ever lower acquisition price for apples, which dissatisfies the producers, who say that they might bear losses. In these conditions, producers and processors of apples have recently convened at a meeting at the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ministry. At the event, farmers demanded an acquisition price for applies equal to the price offered on the regional markets.     

Forecasts show that, this year, the apples harvest might decrease by about 20 per cent in the European Union. At the same time, it is estimated that Poland will harvest by 44 per cent less apples.