This year as well, the Republic of Moldova is taking part in one of the most important international exhibitions dedicated to the horticultural sector, Fruit Attraction 2025, held in Madrid, Spain, from September 30 to October 2.

“Agriculture was not on my list of priorities when I went to study, but later I realized that I could combine things beautifully within our family business. Today, I manage to keep the documentation side under control while also actively promoting the work we do,” says Lidia Ionaș.

Ion Ionaș, the manager of Ionex Trans from Costești, Ialoveni district, runs a family business founded by his parent in 1995. With the support of the USAID High Value Agriculture in Moldova project, the Ionaș family has implemented the latest technologies and standards within the company, enabling it to expand its fruit and grape sales internationally. As a result, Ionex Trans has become an important player in the fruit and grape market, supplying markets in the European Union and maintaining a diversified client portfolio. Through investments in infrastructure, storage facilities, and sorting lines, the company is able to meet the requirements of major retail chains such as Lidl and Edeka, while focusing on the development of market-adapted packaging.

„Trial and error” is how Ion Ionas describes his company’s exports to the EU since 2014. Founded by his father in 2001, Ionex was among the first in Moldova to ship stone fruit and grapes westward. „The first year, we shipped ten truckloads but paid dearly for that learning experience. We, however, didn’t give up, […]