Once upon a time, in the magical land of Moldova, the apple industry was abuzz with excitement and anticipation for what the year 2023 would bring. It was a time to delve deep into the world of Moldovan apples, to savour the sweet and juicy details of their journey.

As the season began, the experts had high hopes for a grand production of 548 thousand tons of apples. Alas, Mother Nature had different plans, and a pesky drought swooped in, revising the estimates to a range of 480-500 thousand tons. Despite this setback, the harvesting campaign in October proved to be rather successful, thanks to the warm and dry weather conditions. The result? An abundance of apples, particularly smaller in size and made up of less popular varieties, found their way to apple juice concentrate factories.

Unfortunately, the export of Moldovan apples did not quite meet expectations. Only 23 thousand tons were exported from July to October, a rather lacklustre depiction compared to previous years. However, the peak period of export sales is expected to shift to February-May, reminiscent of pre-pandemic trends.

But fear not, for there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s estimated that 250 thousand tons of apples will be processed this season, with whispers of the volume reaching up to 300 thousand tons. The apple processing industry seems to be thriving, embracing the bountiful harvest with open arms.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the domestic market. The Moldova Fruct association projected a demand of 60 thousand tons for the domestic market, but is this a realistic goal? With a declining population, economic hardships, and no significant seasonal trends in apple consumption, the outlook for high sales of fresh apples in the domestic market appears rather grim, especially with prices not being particularly low this year.

It’s safe to say that the apple industry in Moldova is facing some challenges in 2023. The production took a hit due to unexpected weather conditions, and the export market has yet to find its stride. However, despite the projections for the domestic market, the processing industry is a glimmer of hope in these uncertain times.

The future of Moldova’s apple industry remains uncertain, but one thing is certain – this humble fruit continues to be a staple in the lives of many, weathering the storm one season at a time. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a fruitful year ahead for the Moldovan apple industry!