Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, announced yesterday, the new export sales of Virginia apples by Crown Orchard Company, to major Indian importer, IG International, during his trade mission to the Middle East and India.
The Governor met with IG International, an Indian produce importer and distribution company, while in Mumbai and witnessed the company's signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to purchase apples from Crown Orchard Company of Covesville, according to a news release.
Exports to India were more than $5 million in 2013 and last year were valued at more than $6 million, according to the release. In 2014, Virginia exported about $1.6 million in apples to India, up from zero in late 2011, when Virginia opened its representative trade office.
Crown Orchard Company sponsored a reverse trade mission to Virginia for Indian apple buyers, and is one of Virginia's largest apple producers, wholesalers and exporters.
“India was a very important new export market for us in 2014, and we are pleased to expand sales there for our 2015 crop," said Henry Chiles, owner of Crown Orchard. "We would not have met our Indian buyers were it not for the efforts of VDACS international marketing staff and their representatives in India. We appreciate their efforts to expand our exports to India and other locations around the world and thank the Governor for meeting with our buyers on our behalf while on his trade mission.”
