Guide with recommendations on export of fruits in maritime containers launched in Moldova

Chisinau, 8 October /MOLDPRES/ - The High Value Agriculture Activity in Moldova (HVAA) Project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Moldova-Fruct Association today launched a guide with recommendations on export of fruits in maritime containers.  

The guide was presented to fruit producers from Moldova interested in the export of fresh fruits to far-away markets, such as the ones from the Persian Gulf, North Africa, Bangladesh, India, etc. The publication was worked out based on the experience of exporters, which sent fruits and table grapes to the Middle East in refrigerated maritime containers.   

According to the Moldova-Fruct Association, these markets provide more and more opportunities for fruits produced in Moldova. While in 2016, only several attempts of export to the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh were registered, then in 2018, about 1,000 tons of apples were supplied to India, Bangladesh, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Israel.   

The state secretary at the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ministry, Alexandru Dubalari, gave assurances to farmers of the government’s support for the exploration of new markets for fresh fruits produced in Moldova.   

A specialist at USAID/ HVAA, Andrei Cumpanici, said that the most efficient and sure way of transport to these markets represent refrigerated maritime containers. The duration of the carriage is from 20 to 45 days. For these reasons, it is necessary to observe strict rules for the packing, palletizing, setting the optimum temperature and humidity, proper ventilation, in order to guarantee the quality of fruits sent from Moldova to end consumers. All actions due to be undertaken at the moment of charging and during the transportation of fresh fruits are contained in the guide unveiled.