APEDA enables India’s first sea shipment of 14 tons of pomegranates to New York, boosting exports and farmer incomes.
In a landmark development for India’s fresh fruit exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has successfully facilitated the first commercial sea shipment of Indian pomegranates to the United States. A total of 14 tons (4,620 boxes) of the premium Bhagwa variety were exported from Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, to New York, arriving on the U.S. East Coast within five weeks to widespread appreciation.
This milestone follows the grant of market access by the U.S. in 2023, with APEDA, USDA-APHIS, NPPO India, and the National Research Centre for Pomegranate (NRCP) conducting successful air trials earlier. Subsequently, APEDA’s static trials extended the fruit’s shelf life to 60 days, paving the way for cost-effective, sustainable sea freight.
The inaugural commercial sea shipment was executed in partnership with Kay Bee Exports, sourcing directly from Indian farms. The fruit underwent irradiation at MSAMB’s IFC facility in Navi Mumbai, with APEDA enabling a seamless USDA pre-clearance program in December 2024, ensuring timely approvals.
APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev noted the Government of India’s focus on boosting fresh fruit exports like mangoes and pomegranates to premium markets such as the USA. “Our farmers will benefit immensely from such global opportunities,” he stated. India currently exports 72,000+ metric tons of pomegranates annually, with a 21% growth recorded this year.
On arrival, the consignment was highly praised for its visual appeal and taste, reinforcing the potential of Indian pomegranates in U.S. retail. Kay Bee Exports CEO, Kaushal Khakhar, credited APEDA’s end-to-end support in market access, logistics, and pre-clearance as instrumental to the success.
India, the world’s second-largest horticulture producer, is leveraging this success to push for greater presence in global markets. APEDA’s Export Promotion Forums (EPF) for pomegranates bring together national and state bodies, top exporters, and labs to streamline exports and address bottlenecks.
With continued support from APEDA and rising demand, Indian pomegranates are set to become a sought-after fruit in the U.S., promising higher farmer incomes and sustained export growth in the coming seasons.
Source: PIB
