Apple growers in Kashmir have initiated the early release of their produce from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage units, responding to an uptick in demand across India. Traditionally, the dispatch of apples commences around mid-February, but this year, the process began in early January, leveraging favorable market conditions.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a fruit grower from Shopian, indicated that standard apple boxes, weighing approximately 10 kilograms, are currently selling for $15–$18, whereas larger boxes of about 16 kilograms are fetching $21–$24. He highlighted that by October 2024, cold storage units in Pulwama and Shopian were at full capacity, as growers had stored their produce in anticipation of better market conditions.
The previous year witnessed about 20% of the apple stock remaining unsold in cold storage facilities after nine months, a situation exacerbated by the influx of imported apples. Nonetheless, this year has seen a more optimistic beginning, with growers hopeful for sustained demand and profitable returns.
Growers underscored the critical role of cold storage facilities in providing the flexibility to sell their produce in response to market demand, advocating for the expansion of such infrastructure to stabilize supply chains and market prices. Shahid Ahmad, a cold storage unit manager, affirmed the importance of these facilities in enabling growers to control the timing of their sales, with the current market demand prompting early releases.
With around 40 cold storage units, predominantly located in SIDCO Lassipora, Kashmir's apple production averages over 2 million metric tonnes annually, occasionally reaching up to 2.5 million metric tonnes. The region's growers are capitalizing on the strategic use of cold storage to navigate market dynamics effectively.
Source: KashmirLife