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Moldovan company PDG Fruct may have begun as a modest family fruit-growing business, but it has grown into a firm operating to international standards and exporting to EU countries. Born from a heartfelt ambition to build a local fruit production company from the ground up, it now has its sights set on expansion, innovation and long-term sustainability.
PDG Fruct is among more than 440 businesses to have received support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU). It has benefited from a joint programme that helps small firms match their ambitions with modern technology, enabling them to boost growth, efficiency and their competitiveness both domestically and abroad.
Bearing fruit
Zinaida Plămădeală, PDG Fruct’s administrator and export manager, still remembers the emotions of seeing the company’s produce on the shelves of local retailers for the first time. It was a moment of true validation and a source of lasting motivation.
“We were full of emotion, enthusiasm and hope, even though our harvest was modest,” she recalls.
The company started with strawberries and apples before eventually expanding into plums. Today, these fruits are grown near Moldova’s capital, in the villages of Păulești and Pitușca.
“For me, the most rewarding thing is to see our fruits delivered fresh and being appreciated on external markets, to feel that we are offering value to consumers and pride to our team,” says Zinaida.
Work at the company never stops: the land dictates the rhythm. Early summer brings strawberries and apples, followed by plums that last into late autumn. Then comes processing, marketing, distribution and exports, with the company now supplying several EU countries. Behind this success is a team of 30 dedicated young professionals, most of them locals.
Sowing the seeds
Ambition and determination alone are not enough to succeed in PDG Fruct’s field: modern agriculture also requires modern production methods. That is why the company turned to the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line, a joint initiative of the EBRD and the EU that helps companies invest in higher standards and more efficient processes, helping to drive growth and long-term success. The programme provides EBRD loans through commercial banks, complemented by EU grants and technical assistance.
“We invested in automated sorting and packaging equipment not only for productivity, but also for sustainability, to reduce losses, guarantee quality, increase efficiency and to become a regional hub for other producers,” explains Zinaida.
The results speak for themselves: productivity has doubled. The company can now sort and pack about 36 tonnes of plums in just eight hours. Being able to offer consistent product quality has also opened doors to demanding international markets.
Looking ahead, PDG Fruct plans to expand its plum orchards, build a new storage and packaging hall and fully digitalise its operations.
“We believe in smart agriculture: connected to EU markets, based on sustainability and innovation,” Zinaida says. “Our ambition is to contribute to Moldova’s agriculture, increase exports, adopt modern technologies and strengthen our position among the top producers of plums and other fruits.”
Beneath these goals, it is PDG Fruct’s deep personal commitment that fuels its continuous growth – its desire to blend Moldova’s rich agricultural traditions with modern technologies to produce products that people everywhere can enjoy. As Zinaida puts it: “I still love ripe plums straight from the orchard the most.”