Truckloads of Kashmiri apples flood Hyderabad markets

City fruit markets are witnessing a flood of Kashmiri and Himachali apples following a bumper harvest. Over 19 tonnes of apples arrived in a week at Batasingaram market, with prices expected to ease further as more trucks reach Hyderabad in coming months

HYDERABAD: It’s raining apples in the city, literally. Thanks to the good harvest in the Kashmir region, the city markets are flooded with apples.

Truckloads of apples are arriving every day at Batasingaram fruit market from far off Jammu & Kashmir. The apples from Himachal Pradesh have started arriving in the city towards the end of August end and now it’s time for the Kashmiri variety of apples.

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In the last week, a total of 19 tonnes of apples had arrived at the Batasingaram market on the city outskirts from Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. “A majority of the arrivals are from the Kashmir region. Himachal Pradesh is famous for ‘Shimla variety’, but then from Kashmir you get over a dozen varieties,” said an official of Batasingaram market.

During the month of September, due to rains and landslides, the city did not receive apples from Kashmir region. However, since the beginning of October, trucks carrying apple loads have been arriving every day.

Varieties like Kulu Delicious, Kinor, Jonthon, Maharaji, BalgariaTrel, Dodhi Ambri, Chari Ambri, Walayati Amberi and Mah Ambri are grown in the valley. In Himachal Pradesh, the widely grown and quality apple varieties are Royal Delicious, Dark Baron Gala, Scarlet Spur, Red Velox and Golden Delicious, the official explained.

The arrival of apples to the city starts from August end when the produce from Himachal Pradesh is brought by the farmers or agents. The prices are high around August and September, but when the Kashmir varieties start arriving in October, the prices gradually come down. “Between November and January, around 2,500 trucks arrive in the city from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir,” added the official.

A truck carries between 600 and 1,000 boxes, with each box containing 50,150 or 180 apples. An average price for a good apple in the retail market is about Rs 15.

Apple Varieties:

From J&K:

• Kulu Delicious

• Kinor

• Jonthon

• Maharaji

• BulgariaTrel

• Dodhi Ambri

• Chari Ambri

• Walayati Amberi

• Mah Ambri

From Himachal Pradesh:

• Royal Delicious

• Dark Baron Gala

• Scarlet Spur

• Red Velox

• Golden Delicious