Mumbai-based importer, Yupaa, welcomes the first-ever shipment of Spanish pears, after working with Nufri to bring the Alejandrina variety to India.
The maiden arrival was greeted by Yupaa’s head of import procurement Parth Kavat and Spain’s economic and commercial counsellor in India, Juan del Alcazar, yesterday (Tuesday 29 November) at Yupaa’s coldstore facility in Mumbai.
Spain only secured access to the Indian market for apples and pears at the beginning of this year, and Yupaa moved swiftly to bring in trial shipments of Spanish apples in April, working with Lleida-based grower-packer-marketer Nufri. The Indian importer has now taken the first shipments of pears from the same partner, bringing in the Alejandrina variety.
Ms Emma Mora, the Export manager of Nufri did a lot of hard work to fulfil and follow all the strict Indian protocols for Spanish apples and pears.
Karvat explained that the Alejandrina variety is unique, and well suited to the Indian market. “The pears are very strong in terms of travel and storage – and they have a very attractive appearance,” he said. “They are green with a slight pink blush and they’re beautifully packaged. The pears are wrapped in pink tissue paper, which makes the fruit look like it’s packed with flower petals.”
Karvat visited Spain earlier this year to discuss the packing and selection of the variety with Nufri’s Jacky Feniello. “We have put together a small programme of weekly arrivals for the month of December through until mid-January,” he explained.
In addition to Spanish pears, Yupaa is also developing its programme for apples this year, bringing in more Red Chief apples from Nufri.
“Following the success of our trial shipments of 21 tonnes earlier this year, we’ll be bringing in a total of 425 tonnes of Super Chief apples from Nufri,” said Karvat.
Del Alcazar said he was delighted with the agreement between Yupaa and Nufri to bring in Spanish apples and pears. “We hope this partnership will develop further in terms of the quantity and range of fruits,” he said. “Spain is one of the world’s largest fruit exporters, so we foresee the presence of Spanish-branded fruits increasing in India in the coming years, now access has been granted.”
The commercial counsellor said Spain ranked 30th among fruit exporters to India in 2015, which he said highlighted the huge potential to develop its position as a supplier. “Spain has a diversity of climates and landscapes, we’re a relatively small country, and our agriculture sector is highly competitive and productive,” he said. “It’s not only these factors that give us a privileged positioned among European producers and exporters, it is the quality and flavour of our fruits.”
