The US Apple Export Council (USAEC) plans to bring a team of Indian, Russian and South East Asian importers to visit US apple growing areas and meet suppliers as it pursues its campaign to develop new markets for East Coast apples, reports the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
The move follows the success of the first ever export season of US East Coast apples to India in September 2009 to August 2010, made possible thanks to USAEC and USDA efforts.
India now ranks as one of US East Coast growers' top-five export destinations, according to Asiafruit Magazine.
Back in 2007/08 the USAEC identified India, Russia,Brazil and South East Asia as potential markets for US East Coast Apples. And with funding from the USDA launched a multi-faceted campaign (including trade show visits, country visits and the appointment of a representative in India) that resulted in the start of East Coast apple exports (primarily Red Delicious) to India in 2009.
Pennsylvanian apple marketing company Hess Brothers is one of several US East Coast producers to have successfully concluded its first-ever export season to India, according to the FAS. The Leola-based firm sold over 50 containers to India - worth some US$900,000.
The USAEC's push to find new markets comes as apple production in US East Coast states Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan is set to double. Growers have switched to high-density plantings of new improved varieties that produce a crop in three years, instead of five to seven years, according to the report.
'New export markets make a big difference in keeping prices up and we are not at the top of our production yet,' Hess Brothers' Fred Hess told the FAS.
The USAEC said attending trade shows, such as Asia Fruit Logistica, forms a critical component of its emerging markets programme since it helps put US suppliers and potential buyers together.
The USAEC represents 11 apple-producing states across the US which account for almost 40 per cent of total US apple production. USAEC members collaborate to generically promote their apples in foreign markets.
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