The wholesale apple prices have dropped somewhat across major mandis (markets) this week with a spike in supply from Jammu & Kashmir where harvest is at its peak. Around half of the expected 2.0-2.1 mln tonnes of apple from the valley has arrived at the markets and the supply will continue as the harvest season will extend till last week of December.
Wholesale prices for the premium quality have come down to Rs 50-55 per kilogram from Rs 60-65 a kg last week. Apple prices had strengthened in the beginning of October as terror strikes and security enhancement had affected supply to markets. The apple market remained subdued for most part of August and September due to floods and heavy rain in central and southern states.
J&K government purchases apples from south Kashmiri fruit growers
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has procured around apples from fruit growers in south Kashmir under the Marketing Intervention Scheme (MIS), officials said on Wednesday. As many as 134,000 apple boxes have been procured from Fruit Mandi Batengoo in the Anantnag district. Rs 25 mln have been paid to fruit growers under recently launched MIS under the department of Horticulture.
