India's APEDA-certified pomegranates debut in Australia

India reached a new milestone in perishable exports by shipping pomegranates for the first time from the farms of India to the people of Australia. On August 31, 2024, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first consignment of Indian pomegranates from Mumbai to Melbourne. 

An official release by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry states, "The consignment weighing 1.1 metric tonnes (MT) consisted of 336 boxes (each weighing 3.5 kg). It underwent necessary irradiation treatment at the MSAMB IFC (Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board - Irradiation Facility Centre) in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, as per the agreed work plan."

This consignment was completed by Mumbai-based fruit and vegetable exporter Kay Bee Exports. Using Air India's network, Kay Bee Exports completed its first air shipment of more than a tonne of Indian pomegranates from India to Australia.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Transport & Logistics News (ITLN), Karan Mange, Head of Air Freight and Supply Chain Manager at Kay Bee Exports, said that Kay Bee Exports completes two to three pomegranate shipments, each weighing around 1.2 tonnes, every week from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to several airports in Australia, including Melbourne and Sydney. They utilise Air India's direct flight from Mumbai to Melbourne for these shipments.

Mange also mentioned that they had exported around five tonnes of the 'Bhagwa' variety of pomegranates from the farms of Maharashtra to Australian markets. These fruits are sorted, cleaned, and packed at the exporter's pack house in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Before arriving in Australia, the pomegranates undergo an irradiation process and are then placed on aircraft for transportation.

Although market access for whole pomegranates from India has been available for some time, the initial protocol required the fruit to be cold-treated during transit at temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius, which was unsuitable for the Indian fruit. In fact, the government release stated that Australia granted market access to Indian pomegranates in 2020, paving the way for Indian farmers to tap into a new and lucrative market.

But, a work plan and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the export of pomegranates to Australia were signed in February 2024, further streamlining the export process. Finally, the irradiation process was approved, enabling Kay Bee Exports to ship these fruits to Australia. For countries like Australia and the US, the irradiation process is compulsory to address quarantine concerns.

Kay Bee Exports, similar to its mango exports, sources pomegranates from both its own farms and partner farms and has been shipping the fruit to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. India is the second-largest producer of horticulture crops in the world. According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry data, India is one of the top producers of pomegranates, with a cultivation area of around 275,500 hectares. The major pomegranate-producing states in India are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.

In efforts to boost pomegranate exports and alleviate supply chain challenges, APEDA has established Export Promotion Forums (EPF) focused on pomegranates. These forums bring together various stakeholders, including government departments, state representatives, and leading exporters. In the fiscal year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tonnes of pomegranates valued at USD 69.08 million to several international markets.

APEDA's commitment to promoting fresh fruit and vegetable exports is evident in its development of sea protocols to maintain product quality during long-distance shipments. This initiative not only strengthens India's global market presence but also provides sustainable export opportunities for Indian farmers.

The release also highlighted that as a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, APEDA is dedicated to promoting Indian agro and processed food exports through initiatives such as organising international exhibitions, exploring new markets, and collaborating with Indian Embassies to promote natural, organic, and Geographical Indication (GI) tagged agro-products.