Apple production in India has bounced back this year, with an expected 150 per cent increase in volumes cutting market prices by around 40 per cent.
Production in Himachal Pradesh is expected to total 635,000 tonnes over the season, rising from last year’s disappointing harvest of 280,000 tonnes.
Jammu & Kashmir is forecast to produce 1.12m tonnes, compared to 700,000 tonnes last year, reported PTI.
Those production figures may represent new records for the apple-producing states.
“Surplus production of apple in bulk producing states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir this year on account of good rain and snowfall has lowered the price of the fruit,” Dev Bhumi Cold Chain Ltd director Anil Dwivedi told PTI.
Wholesale prices for Himachal Pradesh apples have dropped to Rs1,000-1,100 per 20kg box this year, from Rs1,600-1700 per box last season.
Similar pricing is being seen in Jammu & Kashmir, reported PTI, and retail pricing in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai is sitting at Rs60-70 per kg, compared to Rs100-110 per kg this time last year.
Early varieties like India’s own Red Gold and Red June will be available in markets this month, but the bulk of the season will run from August to December.
Good rainfall and temperatures are responsible for the bumper crop.
