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In a first, Maharashtra exports Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates to US
Abhishek Dev, Chairman of APEDA, said the Government of India has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market.
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Nandika Chand - Sun, 20, Apr 2025
- 23:09 EDT
- 90
Representative Image / Pexels
People in New York, USA can now enjoy the prized Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranate. About 14 tons of the fruit, that is 4,620 boxes of Indian pomegranates, reached the US East Coast in the second week of March 2025. The inaugural sea ship reached its destination well within five weeks of the point of departure.
Indian Pomegranates, particularly the Bhagwa variety, are renowned for their rich flavour, deep red colour and high nutritional value. These Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants and vital nutrients, making them a popular choice among health-conscious consumers worldwide.
The consignment was sent by Kay Bee Exports, a leading exporter of fruits and vegetables from Mumbai and a registered exporter with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The pomegranates were directly sourced from the farms of Kay Bee Exports, ensuring that the benefits of this export reach Indian farmers at the grassroots level.
This comes after India successfully sent its first trial commercial sea shipment of Pomegranates, comprising of 4,200 boxes, to the US in collaboration with InI Farms from Irradiation Facility Center (IFC), Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), Vashi, Navi Mumbai in February, 2024.
According to an official statement, APEDA facilitated the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pre-clearance program for pomegranates in December 2024. This played a key role in easing the logistical and regulatory hurdles for Indian agriculture exporters and enabled them to enter the US market.
Abhishek Dev, Chairman of APEDA, said the Government of India has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market. “APEDA has been supporting the export of Indian fruits like mangoes and pomegranates to USA by funding the pre-clearance program. Indian farmers will achieve better realization when their gets exported to premium international markets like USA.” Dev highlighted that Indian mangoes have already reached annual exports of around 3,500 tons. “We hope that pomegranates will also reach such strong numbers in the years to come.”
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Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Kay Bee Exports, thanked APEDA for facilitating the exports of Indian pomegranates to the USA. “APEDA’s efforts have ranged from securing market access to setting up export protocols, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and organizing the pre-clearance program in conjuction with USDA.” He pointed out that Kay Bee is specialized in pomegranates and strives to offer the best fruit that India has to offer.
A representative from the Indian export consortium said Indian pomegranates have always been recognized for their taste. “This shipment has proven that with the right quality and consistency, Indian fresh fruits can meet the discerning tastes of the American consumer. We are delighted with the reception in the market and are confident that this successful arrival will pave the way for an increase in volumes in the coming seasons.”
India is the second-largest producer of horticulture crops, with major pomegranate production in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. APEDA has established Export Promotion Forums (EPF) specifically for pomegranates, aimed at boosting exports and removing supply chain bottlenecks.
These EPF forums include representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, state governments, national referral laboratories and the top ten leading exporters, ensuring a collaborative effort in promoting pomegranate exports.
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