Administrators of supermarkets were inspected by National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA). After last week, ANSA inspectors found grave breaches at vegetable and fruits sections. They were fined and obligated to withdraw the spoiled produce.

"They did not indicate the manufacturer, who imported the produce, the country of origin. The carrots and beets were sold with mud. Four price tags and produce stacked one upon another. The sold apples were spoiled" Radu Musteaţă, chief of Surveillance of Production Units Department said.

Furthermore, director of ANSA claims that nearly half the fruits and vegetables sold on shelves in shops are imported, while local manufacturers are obligated to seek a market abroad.

"We have peaches in Ştefan Vodă that are sometimes left to spoil, as we cannot find where to sell them. I have not seen packed cherries in supermarkets, we exported 1 500 tonnes of strawberries and have not seen many strawberries from Moldova being sold here. The carrots are from Belarus, because unfortunately nobody grows it" Gheorghe Gaberi, director of ANSA said.

Retail companies declared that local manufacturers are at fault.

"Local manufacturers lack the quality and equipment to sort, wash, pack and dry local vegetables" Sergiu Botnaru, representative of a supermarket chain said.

"Imported produce has better quality. Last year we brought apples from Poland and they had better quality than local ones" Angela Stolnicov, representative of a supermarket chain said.

"Believe us that it is not pleasant to watch how Prime Minister is displaying the apples that children are fed with. Our local manufacturers that can actually provide 2 thousand, 2.5 thousand tonnes of apples, already have contract with someone, I can guarantee that" Vitalie Gorincioi, president of Moldova Fruct Association said.

After the searches ANSA has issued total fines of 12 000 lei and destroyed 2 tonnes of fruits and vegetables.

In 2017, Republic of Moldova exported produce worth over one billion USD.