And now, cherries from Kashmir find market in Dubai
06 Jul 2021
In a boost to horticultural crops exports from Kashmir, the first commercial shipment of Mishri variety of luscious cherries from Kashmir valley has been exported to Dubai from Srinagar. APEDA assisted the shipment of cherries to Dubai by MS Desai Agri-Food Private Limited, a venture company of MS Innoterra, Dubai.
Prior to this shipment, a sample consignment was sent in the middle of June 2021 from Srinagar to Dubai through air which were transhiped from Mumbai. Following encouraging response from the consumers in Dubai, the first commercial shipment of Mishri variety of cherries were exported to Dubai.
Mishri variety of Cherries are not only taste delicious but also contain vitamins, minerals and plant compound with health benefits.
The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir produces more than 95 per cent of the total country’s production of commercial varieties of cherries in the country. It produces four varieties of cherries — Double, Makhmali, Mishri and Italy.
Prior to the shipment, the cherries were harvested, cleaned and packed by APEDA registered exporter while the technical inputs were provided by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Kashmir.
APEDA-National Referral Laboratory at National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune provided support for ensuring food safety and quality in the shipment, which would help create brand for cherries, especially in the Middle East.
The commencement of commercial shipment of cherries would provide huge opportunities for exports of several temperate fruits like plums, pears, apricot and apples from Kashmir, especially to Middle East countries in the coming seasons.
APEDA has been conducting interactions with farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), government officials and other stakeholders for boosting export potential of agricultural produce from Kashmir such as apples, almonds, walnuts, saffron, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables and certified organic products.
APEDA has been conduction several rounds of virtual awareness creation programmes involving local producers, suppliers, FPOs and exporters from Kashmir for ensuring export of temperate fruits from the region.
For ensuring exports of quality agricultural produce that adheres to global standards, APEDA has also initiated awareness programmes on National Programme on Organic Production and ISO-17065 requirements for the officials of te union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The programmes are intended to acquaint officials with the third-party certification system for organic products as well as international trade of organic products.