In Moldova, the first week of 2023 saw a modest increase in the average wholesale price for Idared apples, rising from 6 to 6.5 MDL/kg ($1.67/kg) on average. A month has passed since there have been any price changes for apples of premium types, East Fruit reports.
The Federation of Agricultural Producers of Moldova (FARM) specialists think there are a number of causes behind the price increase. One of them is the rise in the chain retail business in Moldova’s commercial activity.
As the weather becomes cooler, more people prefer to shop regularly for food items in shops rather than at bazaars, and they transition from seasonal citrus and exotic fruits to apples.
From this vantage point, it makes sense that apples of poor and average quality in plastic and wooden boxes are taking up more and more space in shops alongside apples of good quality in compact consumer packaging.
These apples are both produced locally, and the price difference between the two groups can range from 30 to 40% or more.
However, apples have always been and still are the least expensive fruit available in Moldova. In chain retail, apples with the best packaging are 1.5–2 times less expensive than, say, bananas of average quality.
Notably, some Moldovan traders anticipate an increase in the supply of “economy” apples, namely the Idared apples, to the markets in Belarus and Russia in the second half of January (when winter holidays end and it gets colder).
Additionally, due to a decrease in the availability of local Romanian and potentially Balkan (Macedonian) apples there, fruit market operators in Moldova anticipate intensifying shipments of average and high-quality apples to Romania.
Most likely, anticipation for upcoming exports is beginning to energize Moldova’s domestic wholesale market.
