First batch of apricots, sweet cherries from Moldova exported to Germany

Chisinau, 20 July /MOLDPRES/ - The first test batch of apricots and sweet cherries, supplied by two companies from the Olanesti village, south-eastern Stefan Voda district, has been exported to Germany this week. The fruits were imported by a cooperative – an organization specialized in the procurement, processing, sale of fresh fruits and vegetables, with an annual turnover of more than 60 million euros, of which 20 million euros represents the trade with plums and sweet cherries.     

According to the executive director of the Moldova Fruct Association, Iurie Fala, more time was needed for the export to be possible, so that talks have been held with the cooperative from Germany during one year. “The market of Germany is an important market for producers from Moldova and so we focused on identifying a group interested in importing native fruits. After a period in which we discussed more by phone, representatives of the Cooperative OGA/OGV NORDBADEN EG -BRUCHSAL came to Moldova and visited more members of the Moldova Fruct Association, where they saw the products, conditions of preservation, packages, assortment. At the same time, they discussed the requirements and parameters of quality, maximally admissible quantity of residues,” Iurie Fala noted.       

The two native companies were set to produce qualitative fruits, as the latter’s commercial aspect matters a lot, to observe the production technology. “As a result, on 15 July, Moldovan sweet cherries and apricots reached sales networks from Germany. The cooperative’s administration told us that Moldovan fruits were very good. We sent a truck with six tons of cherries and 2.5 tons of apricots,” the executive director of the Moldova Fruct Association said.       

Iurie Fala urged Moldovan producers to identify potential clients and establish long-lasting partnership, not to be afraid of new experiences and markets. Germany is a pretty open market for Moldovan sweet cherries, plums and apricots, provided that they are qualitative.  

This experience is the result of a programme on diversification of markets for native companies, undertaken by the Moldova Fruct Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits, with the support of the High Value Agriculture Activity in Moldova (HVAA) Project of the United States Agency for International Development.