In early June, in Moldovan small fruit and vegetable stores the first green fresh peas were sold at 70-80 MDL/ kg ($ 3.93-7.50 / kg). In the stalls nearby, cucumbers were offered for the same price. On the other side of the counters, the same price tag was displayed for imported strawberries. For green fresh peas the retail price does not fall below 15-20 MDL / kg ($ 0.84-1.12 / kg). Fresh and young peas in street fruit and vegetable stalls and tents can cost 30-40 MDL / kg ($ 1.68-2.25 / kg).
East-fruit.com cited representatives of the Speranța Con Association of Canned Fruit and Vegetable Producers saying that in 2021, compared to the last dry and extremely unsuccessful year, the cultivation of vegetable peas in the country increased by 30-50% – to about 1,000 hectares.
Some experts in the Moldovan fruit-growing industry believe that extra-early green fresh peas could really become a niche crop of “small areas” for small farmers who have land in inconveniences. It is probably possible to grow peas both under tunnels and in greenhouses, as a second or third crop.