APEDA cautions exporters on quality of grapes

NEW DELHI: Traders have been asked to exercise caution while exporting grapes this year to avoid any possible rejection as it expressed concern over the quality of the fruit due to recent unseasonal hailstorms in Maharashtra, a major producer.

"We are to given to understand that unseasonal hailstorm have hit the grape growing areas in Maharashtra, which is likely to affect the quality of fruits. Hence it is advised that extreme caution may be exercised while packing consignments for exports," said agri-export promotion body Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority ( APEDA) in a circular.

The Directorate of Agricultural Marketing and the National plant protection Organization (NPPO) have also been asked to closely examine the consignments before allowing for exports, it said.

The grape orchards have been hit badly due to the recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm in Maharashtra, which is a major producer and exporter of the fruit in the country.

The state produces about 21-22 lakh tonnes of grapes, of which it exports about 18-19 lakh tonnes.

Major exporting nations are Netherlands, Russia, the UK, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.