Apple harvesting in Moldova is still ongoing despite colder weather and rains, according to EastFruit. Experts from fruit growers’ organisations believe the initial optimistic forecast for apple production will likely come true. In August 2023, Moldova announced a forecast for apple production at around 548 thousand tons, 100 thousand tons more than in 2022. However, harsh drought in late summer and early autumn led to an adjustment to 480-500 thousand tons. However, since late September, weather has improved and feedback from farmers has been generally positive. Moldova’s apple production 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. Since then, Moldova has greatly reduced the area of apple orchards, uprooting mostly older, non-intensive, and non-irrigated orchards with varieties that could only be sold in Russia.
Moldova is exploring alternative markets for its apples, despite selling a portion of small-size and unpopular varieties to processing factories for juice concentrate production.
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