This season growers harvested a bumper apple crop in Kashmir but due to the large volumes prices dropped by more than 50 percent prompting the growers to look for cold storages for apples. Growers plan to sell their produce during the off-season to make up for the losses.
“If we talk about current rates, it is very low compared to previous years. An apple box now is sold at Rs 400-500 compared to Rs1100-1200 per box last year. This year, we had a bumper crop but the rates are very low,” said Shahid Chaudhary, General Secretary New Kashmir Fruit Association reports www.thekashmirmonitor.net
30 percent of the produce is still lying in the warehouses yet to be sold.
Shahid said all the cold storages of the valley are full to capacity which has left a large of number growers high and dry. Cold stores in neighbouring states Punjab are also full. Shahid said that on average almost 200 apple-laden trucks leave from Parimpora Fruit Mandi every day.