In Moldova, the Golden Delicious season started with a low price – 4-6 MDL/kg ($0.23-0.34/kg). At the beginning of October last year, the level of wholesale prices for this variety was significantly higher.
There are several factors that put pressure on the price of apples of this variety at the beginning of the season. First and foremost, there was a bigger Golden Delicious yield 2021 compared to last year. Forecasts, based on the farms that have completed harvesting, claim the increase is 20-30% or more.
Growers say that Golden Delicious apples are mostly large in size this year. However, many have defects, as a result of changes in humidity and temperature. Thus, traders accept apples not directly from the orchards, but mainly from the sorting and packaging facilities of agricultural enterprises, as they did when purchasing summer orchard apples.
Prices for Golden Delicious apples of medium quality for current consumption and short-term storage are set at a level of Gala apple prices and on average 1 MDL/kg higher than the starting prices for Idared apples. The supply of mid and late season apples on the Moldovan market exceeds demand.
The second reason for the modest purchase prices for Golden Delicious apples at the beginning of the season is that they are usually for long term storage, participants of the Moldovan fruit market say.
Source: east-fruit.com
