India: Apple harvest begins in Himachal Pradesh
Trade representatives have said that the season opening with good prices is an indication of a good year.
Gian Singh Chandel, chairman of Dhalli Apple Market Committee, said, "This year, prices are almost 25 per cent higher than last year at this point of time."
He said Chandel early varieties such as Red June, Summer Queen and Tydeman’s Early Worcester, though not the best in terms of quality, had reached markets in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
"A 20-kg box of Tydeman’s Early Worcester is being sold for up to Rs 1,100 ($20 US) in Dhalli and this is a good wholesale price," he said. Traders said on an average, 1,500 to 2,000 crates of apples were reaching Dhalli every day.
Red June and Summer Queen are selling around Rs 600 and Rs 300 per box respectively, he said. The same apples are selling for Rs 80-100 per kg in the retail markets of Chandigarh and Delhi.
Horticulture department director Gurdev Singh said, "This year, the crop is far better that the last year’s production of 2,75,000 tonnes. It is too early to comment on the total yield, but it’s certain that it would be normal (around 5,00,000 tonnes)."
Ramesh Chauhan, a farmer from Kotkhai in upper Shimla, said that though the harvest had begun it would be a while before the best apples were picked. For example, Royal Delicious will not be harvested until the middle of August.
Source: deccanherald.com
