This year’s walnut output will decrease by 10% compared to last year. Head of the walnut Exporters Association Dumitru Vicol told Info-Prim Neo that the main reason behind it is this February’s blizzard that affected the walnut tree buds and tops. Dumitru Vicol says the drought will not affect the walnut crops quantitatively, but will affect them quality-wise, and the walnut kernels will be darker than usual. He adds that the crops were somewhat saved by the showers in spring, when the walnuts were only in their early stage of growth. “Usually, the best yields come from the center and northern parts of Moldova, because the drought is usually harsher in the south, and the environmental conditions there do not favor walnut growth”, specified Dumitru Vicol. Although the crops will diminish, producers claim that the prices for walnut may remain unchanged, yet a clearer answer will be available in early September, when European countries will start calling bids for purchase. One kilo of walnut kernel cost 50 – 70 lei on the external market, and one kilo of walnuts ranges from 10 to 15 lei.