OREANDA-NEWS. July 05, 2012. In the research work covering the market of dried and fresh fruit in Germany and fulfilled under the Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development project, launched by USAID, it is said that the current situation in the market of fruit and vegetables of Moldova, excepting nuts and prunes, does not meet requirements of the German market.

Among key reasons preventing Moldovan growers from the market of Germany there are as follows: the bulk of Moldovan fruit and vegetables is not certified by GlobalGAP ( not to speak of the fact that such systems as BRC, IFS and others are not known in Moldova at all); poor quality and sales management; strong German and other European rivals ; the great distance between Moldova and Germany; over saturation of the German market; specific preferences of German consumers who rather chose local products (apples and tomatoes, for example), an uncompetitive price.

The research runs that Moldova has not been prepared to meet demand of the German market for some kinds of products, including white grape or seedless grapes, plums, large sweet cherries. Besides, Moldova has not positioned itself as a reliable supplier of fruit and vegetables. Entrance of some kinds of products to the market is limited by a minimum cost, which is an additional barrier for Moldovan growers. At the same time, such fruit as plums or prunes can be easily admitted to the German market, but they are not supplied due to insufficiently favourable pricing environment. The research analyzes the market, system of distribution, pricing and law standards for the following commodity headings: apples, grapes, peaches, plums, tomatoes, sweet cherries, prunes and walnuts.

According to researchers, the market of Germany with 82 mln of the population is the largest consumer of dried fruit in EU. Every year Germany imports close to 5.5 mln t of fresh fruit and vegetables. According to the research work, Moldovan fruit and vegetables can be admitted to all markets of Europe, but Moldova has first to implement a whole set of ling-term measures to reform the sector of production and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables.