Adani Fresh to procure apple from next week

Adani Agri Fresh will start procuring apple from growers from next week. “The Adani group will start procurement by next Monday or Tuesday. Machines are going through the routine last-minute check before the procurement begins,” said an official of the group.

Normally, the Adani group starts apple procurement between August 15 and 30. In addition to its three Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores at Rampur, Rohru and Sainj in Shimla district, the group has rented three CA stores from the state’s Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) at Reckong Peo (Kinnaur), Jarol and Tatapani.

With three additional CA stores this season, Adani Fresh will procure more apple than last year. “We will look to procure around 25,000 MT apple this year. Last year, we procured around 20,000 MT,” said the official from Adani Agri Fresh.

Over the last few years, apple growers have been alleging that the market takes a downward turn as and when Adani Agri Fresh and a few other CA stores start procurement. This time, though, the growers seem confident about the market improving further when the private CA stores start the procurement.

“The market crashed early on this season. It has seen some improvement over the last few days as the arrival in the market has declined,” said an apple grower. “Besides, there isn’t much crop in high-altitude orchards this time around. So, the rates are likely to go up further as there will be stiff competition between the mandis and the CA stores,” he added.