NEW DELHI: India imported 14,571.90 tonnes of fresh pears over the 2013-14 year, according to report of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Pear exporters across the globe are targeting a growing demand for the fruit in India. No imports were made in either 2012/13 or 2011/12, with the market relying on domestic production from the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab growing regions.
China has emerged as a key supplier to the Indian market, sending over 9,250 tonnes in 2013/14. South Africa (2,799 tonnes) and the US (2,518 tonnes) also exported significant volumes to India.
US-based grower-exporter Stemilt Growers is aiming to ramp-up its shipments to the Indian market to compliment the apple sales programmes it runs in the Asian nation.
“Along with a record production of apples, we have 13 different varieties of pears grown in the US,” Bill Young, global sales director at Stemilt told BusinessLine. “Though all the 13 varieties are sold in the global market, Anjus pears (from the US) are particularly liked by Indian consumers.”
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