---
title: "Record plum harvest this year, but farmers face low prices and few buyers"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85017/record-plum-harvest-this-year-but-farmers-face-low-prices-and-few-buyers
published: 2026-09-14T06:45:00Z
language: en
author: "Angelina Caldare"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Record plum harvest this year, but farmers face low prices and few buyers

> Moldovan producers are anticipating a bountiful plum harvest this year, with an estimated yield about 20 percent higher than last year's. The weather has been favorable, resulting in high-quality fruit. Harvesting is in full swing, and farmers hope to sell their entire crop. Once again, nearly half of the harvest is expected to be sold in the European Union market.

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/5f570bf4-94e8-447e-b266-2ed90ba50a41.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

Moldovan producers are anticipating a bountiful plum harvest this year, with an estimated yield about 20 percent higher than last year's. The weather has been favorable, resulting in high-quality fruit. Harvesting is in full swing, and farmers hope to sell their entire crop. Once again, nearly half of the harvest is expected to be sold in the European Union market.

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/b30b2eb2-b562-47c3-a097-d1de4c207796.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

Roman Andriuță owns a five-hectare plum orchard in the village of Șeptelici, located in the Soroca district. 

He recently began the harvest and estimates that he will collect around 150 tons of fruit, which is nearly 50 percent more than last year. 

However, one of the biggest challenges is finding labor. There are few people in the village willing to do day labor, so the farmer is forced to bring in workers from neighboring areas. 

“We come every day; it’s a bit of extra money. May God give us the strength to complete the harvest,” one worker mentioned. 

“We pick from morning till evening and get paid 450 lei a day.” 

Another worker added, “We come from another village to harvest here. We have to survive; there’s nowhere else for us to go.”

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/4b41bdca-b94e-4dd9-9493-64d20756a994.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/4f1d4e24-529e-45c8-bc90-fd6c074417b5.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

The plum situation in the Serbian market is more complicated this season than last year.

Prices have dropped significantly, and producers are struggling to find buyers. 

*"Prices are very low this year. Rising diesel costs have made the entire value chain more expensive. Treatments and products also cost much more since everything relies on diesel and transportation. For now, we are putting the fruit in cold storage. The plums that cracked due to rain following the drought are being sorted—some will be dried, while others will go to the cannery,"* says entrepreneur Roman Andriuța.

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/189f1852-d5cb-44d4-ba59-791142aaeafe.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

The farmer estimates that at the current price, he will barely cover his expenses.

*"Marketing is our biggest challenge. Currently, plums are selling for 3.50 lei, and rarely does anyone pay four lei. Meanwhile, we pay workers between 450 and 500 lei per day, but a worker cannot pick enough plums to cover their own wages. This is our biggest grievance: one kilogram of plums yields a liter of juice, which sells for 20 to 24 lei. However, we are unable to sell the plums for even five lei per kilogram,"* notes agronomist Oleg Ciobanu.

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/cbd371a1-d65c-48aa-8bc9-25f5092a1801.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

This year, the country's orchards are expected to yield approximately 130,000 tons of plums. 

In contrast, last year, growers harvested less than 100,000 tons, with nearly half of that amount exported to the European Union.

The production increase is directly affecting prices, according to representatives from the "Moldova Fruct" Association. 

"When production is higher, prices tend to be lower. As a result, prices across the European Union are currently lower. We have an export quota to the European Union set at 61,000 tons, and I believe we will meet that target. Most of the plums we export to the European Union are shipped during September and October," says Vitalie Gorincioi, President of "Moldova Fruct."

![TRM](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/d2c95e51-99ea-4e0c-8ced-bb64d6827481.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

The Republic of Moldova has around 22,000 hectares dedicated to plum orchards.