
Compared to the European level, the wholesale price for technical raspberries in Moldova, at first glance, is small. For comparison, as noted by berry market expert Dmitri Dodica, in terms of Moldovan lei, the price for this product in Serbia is 53-57 lei/kg, in Poland – about 46-50 lei/kg.
However, according to the Association Pomușoarele Moldovei, technical raspberries in Moldova are purchased for freezing products of the gris category (raspberry crumbs – “pixels”). Most of the raw material for these products at this period of the season is raspberries of the “Novosti Kuzmin” variety, which are not in great demand on the premium “fresh market”. Whereas in European countries, the bulk of frozen raspberries are whole berries, of the rolling category. Accordingly, due to a combination of all factors (quality and quantity, first of all), the current price level for frozen raspberries in RM can hardly be considered understated.
Meanwhile, almost all Moldovan raspberries, especially those of medium and higher quality, are supplied to the domestic “fresh market”, which is far from being saturated. Against the background of insufficient supply, the price of fresh raspberries for “store retail” is kept at a high level – 180-250 lei/kg in bulk. In “spontaneous” and stationary retail, the price for raspberries varies within a very wide range – 150-400 lei/kg.