Fruit Day -2024: Record number of EU exhibitors

Chisinau, July 12 /MOLDPRES/- The 6th edition of the specialized exhibition of techniques and innovations for fruit growing brought together today hundreds of fruit producers, exporters and specialists in the field. The exhibition was organized by Moldova Fruct Association with the support of USAID Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity and the Investment Agency.

The event was hosted by the modern orchard of the company VelFruct-Prim in Coșernița, Criuleni, representing a suitable platform to address trends in the horticultural sector, innovations in equipment and techniques, solutions to increase productivity and competitiveness, as well as the creation of new business opportunities and partnerships.

"This year's edition of "Fruit Day" takes place in a significant context: the Republic of Moldova is a candidate country for accession to the European Union. This pushes us to align our agriculture to European standards, ensuring the competitiveness and quality of Moldovan fruit on the EU market. This objective is essential, especially in the context of current climate change, and investments in post-harvest infrastructure and adaptation of innovations in this segment are becoming increasingly important," Moldova Fruit Association president Vitalie Gorincioi said at the beginning of the event.

50 exhibitors from Moldova, as well as from Romania, Italy, Poland, Germany, France and Greece exhibited their products, equipment, and services in the fields of perspective varieties and modern orchard establishment, advanced solutions for protection against diseases and pests, irrigation systems, packaging and intelligent solutions and digitalization, construction of refrigerators and production of own renewable energy.

"I am proud that USAID has supported Moldova Fruct Association, fruit producers and exporters to enable the transformation of the sector and diversification of markets. USAID will continue to stand with fruit producers to help grow businesses, create jobs, and develop communities," USAID Mission Director Jeff Bryan said.

"The Investment Agency focuses its work not only on attracting investors to Moldova, but also to promote horticultural exports at international events. In 2023, through the Republic of Moldova's participation in four exhibitions, producers were able to sign 94 contracts, with deliveries of fruit to markets where our fruits are already known, as well as to new destinations such as Sweden, Israel and Morocco," Investment Agency Director Natalia Bejan said.

Despite all the challenges faced by producers and exporters in the 2023-2024 season, 133 thousand tons of apples from last year's harvest were exported to more than 30 countries of the world, compared to 124 thousand tons of apples exported in the previous season. At the same time, the volume of apples exported to the EU market practically doubled from 12 thousand tons in 2022-2023 to 22 thousand tons in 2023-2024. The main destination for apples to the EU is Romania, accounting for more than 90% of the export share. Moldovan apples were also exported to Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands.