Flavorsome premium: Forget Iranian imports, Kashmiri apples make debut in UAE

Dubai:  Farmers in Kashmir have a reason to celebrate after a UAE-based supermarket chain started selling apples in its stores.

Al Maya Group, the UAE-based business conglomerate, has more than 50 supermarkets in the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

The flavorsome premium apples, native to Kashmir are considered one of the best quality fruit harvested mainly in September-October.

“We are happy to announce the availability of freshly harvested apples at our supermarkets in the UAE,”  Al Maya Group Director and Partner Kamal Vachani said, noting that this is a peak apple harvesting season in Kashmir.

Mir Syed Shahid Ahmed Kamili, President- Federation Chambers of Industries, Kashmir, said India ranks seven in world apple production with a share of only 3 percent among all fruit crops.

“We thank the government of India as we are getting heavy subsidies and support to promote the export of Kashmiri products,” he told a news agency

 Jammu and Kashmir is the largest producer of apples in the country. Around 33,15,85 hectares of land is fruit cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir. Of which 16,47,42 hectares are under apple cultivation. 

Horticulture contributes more than Rs 5000 crore to the J&K economy annually. The average production of apples is 10 MT per hectare. This is the highest among all fruits. The average production of all other fruits is 5 to 6 MT per hectare.