Fruit and vegetable market operators note that in the second half of the fall, in particular, carrots were very difficult to sell to local chain retailers at a wholesale price of 4-4.5 lei/kg, white cabbage – at 2-2.5 lei/kg, potatoes – at 5-5.5 lei/kg. At the same time, in October-November last year, these products were 1.5-2 times more expensive on the Moldovan market. At the beginning of winter, the prices for carrots, cabbage and onions, contrary to the seasonal trend of the past years, did not rise, but fell by 0.5-1 lei/kg. The range of prices for potatoes has widened, but on average, the wholesale price for this product in December still remains at the fall level.
According to traders, in Moldova fruit and vegetable assortment, at least root crops, are sold at the lowest price in the Black Sea region. They explain this fact, firstly, by the increase in the yields of these crops this year, and secondly, by the reduction in the number of consumers. In such a situation, according to their observations, there are practically no imports of “borscht set” products to Moldova.
The more strange is the information that after a five-year break carrot and turnip supplies to the Moldovan market were resumed by Azerbaijan. Thus, it is reported that Moldova received 72.7 tons of these products from this country in the amount of $37.5 thousand. Probably, Azerbaijani carrots are of marvelous quality, as soon as they will be offered to Moldovan consumers at times more expensive than carrots produced in Moldova. The only question remains – who will buy it?
