Serbian and Moldovan autumn raspberries to compete for EU buyers; Ukraine remains uncertain

Serbia is focusing on premium autumn raspberries for export to the EU, while early Moldovan batches are already on the market. The Ukrainian harvest remains uncertain due to spring frost damage.

The Serbian raspberry sector is targeting the premium fresh segment for autumn raspberries in the 2026 season. Serbian exporters expect to supply high-quality fruit to the EU, with the main harvest period set to begin in mid-August. The export offer from Serbia is likely to be dominated by varieties suitable for the fresh market, as processors report that late summer fruit is less suited for processing due to increased perishability under high temperatures.

Moldova has started delivering the first small batches of autumn raspberries to EU markets. Reports indicate that both quality and quantity are variable, with some lots affected by heat stress and fruit damage. Moldovan fruit is entering the market ahead of the main Serbian and Ukrainian volumes, offering EU buyers an early alternative. There are no precise wholesale prices quoted for Moldovan or Serbian raspberries at this stage of the season.

Ukraine, traditionally a significant supplier of autumn raspberries to the EU, especially Poland, faces a highly uncertain season. Local industry sources report considerable frost damage to plantations, but there is no official data yet on the scale of the losses. The lack of clear information is creating uncertainty around the volume and quality of Ukrainian raspberries available for export in August and September.

Late summer heat waves across Eastern Europe have accelerated the decline in quality of summer raspberry varieties, particularly Glen, which is now only suitable for processing. The majority of fresh raspberries arriving from the region in early August are destined for juice, puree, and concentrate, with quality issues such as sunburn and discoloration reported. This situation is expected to increase demand for premium autumn raspberries as they come into season.

In Poland, importers and processors are closely monitoring the availability and quality of Serbian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian raspberries to supplement domestic shortfalls. The uncertain Ukrainian crop and variable Moldovan supply may affect import prices and competition on the Polish market as the main autumn raspberry season progresses.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI