Is the first commercial consignment of premium cherries really heading to Saudi Arabia and UAE?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- First commercial consignment of premium cherries from Jammu and Kashmir.
- Shipment is heading to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- Significant market opportunities for cherry farmers.
- Government efforts to enhance agricultural exports.
- Success of previous agricultural shipments like Indian pomegranates.
New Delhi, June 16 (NationPress) The inaugural commercial shipment of premium cherries from Jammu and Kashmir is en route to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, announced Commerce and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday.
In a message shared on the X social media platform, the minister highlighted that this development creates a significant market opportunity for cherry farmers, enabling them to receive a better price for their crops.
“This is certainly a moment of celebration. The first commercial shipment of premium cherries from Jammu and Kashmir is on its way to Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” Goyal wrote.
“This opens up a vast market for our cherry farmers, allowing them to secure a better price for their harvest,” he further elaborated.
The minister noted that the PM Modi government has been diligently working to eliminate logistical hurdles to position India as a leading global supplier of premium agricultural products.
“What a triumph for the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative,” he remarked.
The government remains committed to minimizing logistical challenges and enhancing market accessibility for Indian agricultural and processed food products.
In April, Goyal praised the contributions of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in facilitating the first commercial sea export of the Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates to the US. This initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for farmers amid the growing global demand for high-quality agricultural products.
The first sea shipment of 4,620 boxes of Indian pomegranates, weighing around 14 tonnes, arrived in New York during the second week of March—just five weeks after departing from Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra.
The shipment received an enthusiastic welcome in the US, with reports indicating that the quality upon arrival was “excellent,” and customers were impressed by the stunning visual appeal and superior flavor of the Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates.
The success of this shipment underscores the potential for Indian pomegranates to become a favored choice in the competitive US market, according to a statement from the Commerce Ministry.