Ramadan’s 27 June start this year is expected to give Indian Barhee date exports a boost, a leading exporter reveals.
India’s largest Barhee date grower-shipper Gorasiya Farm in Kutch, Gujarat Province, western India, predicts a 25-30 per cent rise in exports this year because Ramadan coincides with its July-mid-August growing season.
The farm ships 50 per cent of its volume to Europe (UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy), and is targeting Middle Eastern markets for Ramadan for the first time this year, Gorasiya Farm partner AR Sharma told Fruitnet.
Bahree dates are unusual in that they can be eaten in their fresh, yellow, crunchy state, making them ideal for snacking after sunset during Ramadan, said Sharma. “Because in the first stage of ripening the skin of this fruit is fresh like an apple (not gummy), it can be carried in pockets without apprehension, which makes it more popular in Ramadan,” he said.
Shelf-life during the yellow stage is 2-4 weeks. During their second stage of ripening, Bahree dates turn amber to light brown, skins are thin and begin cracking, giving way to a smooth, creamy interior that tastes like brown sugar and caramel, according to date aficionados.
Sharma said Kutch’s desert climate is ideal for Bahree date production, which began in India six years ago.
'Barhee date tissue culture plants from Israel were brought to India a decade ago and production on it started in 2008,” explained Sharma. “Now production on Indian farms is increasing year-on-year and gives consistent quality. Gorasiya Farms produced around 500 tonnes in 2012, and in 2013 our produce totalled around 900 tonnes.”
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