Since 2004, CNFA’s Agribusiness Development Project (ADP) has assisted Moldovan companies in developing high-value agriculture and boosting exports.

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, ADP provides support for planting high yielding intensive and super intensive orchards and introduces new and upgraded cold storage facilities.

Proper post-harvest handling is essential for maintaining quality and increasing shelf life needed to compete effectively in EU markets as well as in the emerging CIS supermarket trade.

As part of its efforts to improve postharvest practices in Moldova, ADP is promoting a new technology called SmartFresh that enables apple exporters to achieve better fruit firmness and longer shelf life.

Since top prices are realized in the late winter and early spring, use of SmartFresh technology can significantly increase the competitiveness of local exporters as it preserves the “orchard fresh” quality of fruit for six months or more after it is put into cold storage.

SmartFresh is a patented technology that slows down the normal apple ripening process when used in conjunction with modern cold storages. It is in common use in the U.S. and in EU countries but requires approval by government authorities for commercial use.

To address this issue, ADP assisted Moldovan government researchers in the fall of 2007 to set up formal research trials using apples provided by several leading apple producers.

The results of the trials confirmed that the new technology increased the quality and shelf life of stored apples and met all environmental and food safety standards.

As a result of the ADP-supported research, the Government of Moldova approved SmartFresh technology for commercial use in the spring of 2008. Three members of the Moldova Fruit Association (that was organized in 2006 also with ADP support) are now using the technology in their cold storages and other exporters intend to start using it next season.

“By implementing this new technology, we can be competitive on the high-quality segment of apples on export markets all year round,” said Igor Tcaci, Agropomfruct Ltd Director and member of the Moldova Fruct Association.

The introduction by Moldovan growers of modern technology that promotes improved quality recently caught the eye of a major EU supermarket chain that is now expanding into the high-end Moscow supermarket trade. They approached the Moldova Fruit Association and are now in the process of negotiating a potentially long-term contract to buy high-quality SmartFresh apples from Moldova.