DeccanProduce, having supplied and exported fresh table grapes, pomegranates, mangoes and fruit pulps from India to Europe, CIS countries, the Middle and Far East, is now diversifying into growing partnerships and marketing some new and exciting products for the domestic and export markets.
The first of these new products is a seedless watermelon, the Happy Family variety developed by Syngenta which is the first premium commercial seedless watermelon variety to be introduced to the Indian market.
“We are currently doing a trial with growers for the seedless watermelon, we supply the seeds and agronomists who will advise the growers. We will market the watermelon to increase returns to the growers. We will also expand this operation to other produce,” explains Nagesh Shetty from Deccan Produce.
“We expect the first crop in early March, we have timed this production for when it is starting to get warmer in India and local as well as export prices should be higher. It is a premium product for the retail markets. Indian retailers have shown a lot of interest in it as the Indian consumer is looking for more diverse premium products.”
According to Nagesh things are changing in India, with new varieties being introduced in most fruits he hopes to extend this to other categories too.
“The initial volumes will be lower as this is a trial, but we intend to increase volumes. We expect to ship 3 or 4 containers to The Gulf from our first crop, though the fruit is grown to European standards for quality and residue limits."
