Apples to India Pt 1

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. They could not be any happier about once again exporting apples to India, but Washington apple growers know there’s still plenty of work left to build back what used to be our number 2 market.

Washington Apple Commission president Todd Fryhover says September lifting of Section 232 tariffs on U.S. apple imports to India was a huge relief …

FRYHOVER … “So, we were at the duty as all other origins and that spurred on the additional interest in exports, but then the larger crops so we’ve got two bonuses going that have perpetuated itself into a rather dramatic increase in shipments this season versus last in India.”

For U.S. apples, but for Washington state growers in particular, Fryhover says the apple market in India already had a great relationship with and appreciation of our apples …

FRYHOVER … “I think that, you know, when we look at India, of course India, Red Delicious is a variety that they’re very aware of because they grow it there themselves. The amount of product we shipped in there in past years, pre section 232, the last year that we shipped, we shipped 8 million bushels. And so there was already a very good Washington reputation. So, when the duty came off, the importers just came running back to Washington as quickly as possible.”

But Fryhover says regaining the market we had prior to the tariffs shutting down our access to India will take some time. Tune in tomorrow for more on Washington apples for consumers in India.