According to farmers, most of the plum crop of the latest “Top Hit” variety was harvested by the end of September. In the first days of October, according to expert estimates, less than 1 thousand tons of fruit remained on the trees. Due to high humidity, the bulk of this production was only suitable for sale as raw material for distillate and plum paste production.
Representatives of the Association of Canned Fruit and Vegetable Producers Speranța Con stated in this regard that processors are ready to accept all plums offered by farmers. However, the purchase price for plums directly “from the orchard” at the end of the season decreased by about half compared to its peak level, to an average of 3 lei/kg.
In addition to marketable residues “from the garden”, the market of industrial plums was flooded with offers “from refrigerators”, which are too soft and do not meet the demands of the “fresh market”.
According to the estimations of fruit market operators, up to 25 thousand tons of plums were placed in industrial refrigerators of agricultural producers and traders of Moldova for more or less long-term storage at the end of harvesting campaign.
