India begins commercial export of pomegranates to the USA
India has begun commercial export of pomegranates to the USA after it lifted the export ban in 2022. The government expects this move to open a big market for the Indian pomegranates, a fruit which is being increasing preferred by consumers across the world for its health benefits.
A consignment of 1344 kilograms of pomegranates of Kay Bee Export treated in the presence of an inspector from the USA was shipped by air on January 24. “The pomegranates were first processed at the pack house of Kay Bee Exports and then irradiated at the Irradiation Facility Centre (IFC) of Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) at Vashi in the presence of the US inspector to Florida in USA,” said MSAMB in a release.
It added, “In 2017-2018, the United States had banned the import of pomegranates from India due to fruit fly infestation in pomegranate.”
Th Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) had jointly started discussions with the United States Department of Agriculture to lift the export ban. However, the USA has put a few conditions and prescribed some processes like mite wash, sodium hypochlorite treatment, washing, drying etc before the pomegranates are packed in boxes followed by irradiation, said Maharashtra state government officials.
India expects to tap a big market for pomegranates in the USA. “The USA has included pomegranate in the dietary guidelines for skin disorder which has created a huge demand for pomegranate in USA.
The Indian pomegranate variety has more demand than the California pomegranate variety. As this year’s pomegranates season in California has ended, there is scope for Indian pomegranates to capture the US
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