The program also included visits to the VERGERS D’ANJOU cooperative, the packing facility and orchard of Vergers de Souzay, the Rungis International Market, the National Association of Apple and Pear Producers (ANPP), the Interprofessional Organization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Producers (INTERFEL), and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, according to a statement from the Moldova Fruct association.
“One of the key items on the agenda was a visit to the Rungis International Market, the largest agri-food market in Europe. The numerous pavilions displaying produce provided a good opportunity to study the organization of the fruit and vegetable trade, including activities in the Carreau des producteurs area, where meetings were held with key industry players. The delegation was able to see what types of packaging are used, which varieties are in demand, and how these products are distributed across different regions. “Logistics are very well developed, and everything must meet strict requirements, as France is known as the strictest market in the EU in terms of quality and safety standards,” said Alexandra Bycu, a marketing specialist at Moldova Fruct.
At the French Ministry of Agriculture, the Moldovan delegation learned about government policies and forms of support offered by the country’s authorities and the European Union to fruit producers and their organizations. The prospects of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2028–2032 were also discussed.
“The study tour to France represents a valuable opportunity for Moldova Fruct to gain firsthand insight into European models of sector organization—from cooperation and management to promotion and integration in international markets. From the perspective of the OPTIM project, this exchange of experience complements efforts to institutionally strengthen the association and develop its growth strategy, as well as support more informed decision-making for the development of the fruit sector in the Republic of Moldova in the context of European integration,” summarized Karina Turchin, a representative of the OPTIM project.
The visit was organized with the support of the Swiss government and Helvetas Moldova as part of the OPTIM project and in cooperation with fruit-growing organizations in France.
