With the cherry season in Jammu and Kashmir coming to an end, demand for imported cherries in India has risen sharply, says Shivjit Zende, Founder of Gurudatt IMPEX Pvt. Ltd. "The market is now entirely dependent on overseas supply, with air shipments arriving from the United States, Turkey, and Iran. Sea-freight consignments, particularly from Iran's Mashhad region, are also supplementing volumes," he adds.
Zende notes that the quality of imported cherries has been excellent this season. "Farmers have become more experienced with post-harvest practices, and packaging standards are better than last year. Iran's Mashhad cherries, in particular, have been outstanding thanks to favourable climate conditions," he says, while mentioning that U.S. and Turkish cherries have also landed with consistent high-quality.
© Gurudatt IMPEX Pvt. Ltd.
Still, handling challenges remains. "Cherries are delicate and require immediate cold storage and rapid transportation," Zende explains. His team advises farmers to pre-cool cherries right after harvest, store them in cold rooms, and prioritise air shipping for long-distance markets like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. Once in India, refrigerated vans are used to keep the cold chain intact until the fruit reaches buyers.
According to Zende, a wide range of varieties is available from both domestic and imported sources. "In Kashmir, popular types include Jaddi, Mishri, Makhamali, Italy, Holland, Sweetheart, Cruzeland, and Double Cherry, with Mishri standing out for its sweetness and crunch." Zende also shares that prices are higher than last year, driven mainly by rising air freight costs and increased labour charges. Freight is the biggest factor in cherry pricing.
© Gurudatt IMPEX Pvt. Ltd.
Looking ahead, Gurudatt IMPEX plans to diversify origins by introducing cherries from Spain and China. "Spain is known for its intensely sweet flavour, while China offers large, cost-effective cherries, often over 20 mm in diameter, including distinctive heart-shaped fruit."
Zende predicts that in the coming months, only imported cherries will be available in India, led by the U.S. supply. "The Iranian season will wind up by late August, followed by Turkey's harvest until October. After that, if prices remain favourable, U.S. cherries will dominate."
For more information:
Shivjit Zende
Gurudatt IMPEX Pvt. Ltd.
Tel: +91 91 46 451 111
Email: [email protected]
