Pune, July 28, 2023: In a remarkable collaborative effort, the Agricultural Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), along with the National Crop Protection Organization (NPPO), Maharashtra State Board of Agricultural Marketing, Pomegranate Research Centre in Solapur, and INI Farms Pvt. Ltd., has initiated a pioneering pomegranate export venture from Pune to the United States on a trial basis.
The inaugural shipment was ceremoniously launched by APEDA’s General Manager, Vinita Sudhanshu, at the Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. This strategic initiative is set to unravel the immense potential of the American market for pomegranate exports, thereby opening up new avenues for growth and trade opportunities for pomegranate exporters.
Dignitaries including APEDA President Abhishek Dev, Director Tarun Bajaj, Executive Director of Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board Sanjay Kadam, Dr R. A. Marathe from the National Pomegranate Research Center Solapur, APEDA General Manager UK Vats, Plant Protection Advisor J. P. Singh, and Satish Waghmode, Head of Irradiation Facility Center, graced the launch event with their presence.
The United States had previously imposed a ban on pomegranate imports from India during the years 2017-18 due to concerns surrounding fruit fly infestation in pomegranate seeds. After extensive negotiations and collaborative efforts between the Indian government, APEDA, NPPO, and in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture, the ban was lifted in 2022, following the successful implementation of stringent quality standards.
In this pilot phase, a total of 150 boxes (equivalent to 450 kg) of pomegranates were air-shipped from the Vashi facility in Navi Mumbai to New York, USA. The entire process adhered meticulously to the specified pomegranate fruit standards laid down by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board’s vegetable processing center.
This bold endeavor holds immense promise for Pune’s pomegranate industry as it endeavors to tap into the vast American market, ushering in fresh avenues for growth and trade prospects. The optimism shared by APEDA and its partners regarding the success of this initial export is palpable, and the venture is expected to set the stage for heightened pomegranate exports to the USA in the near future.
