Good prices turn sour as farmers harvest apples too early

…Kullu Delicious and Delicious. Mohammad Ashraf Wani, President of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, told businessline that farmers began harvesting unripe apples after seeing the high prices fetched by early-season produce. “ The prices dropped after the unripe shipments reached wholesale markets outside the Valley ,” Wani said. He said a glut of apples in the markets had also contributed to the decline in prices. According to traders, around 18 lakh apple cartons arrive daily in different mandis across the Valley. Tariq Ahmad…

…across the Valley. Tariq Ahmad Mir, a trader, said farmers in other areas were encouraged to harvest early after seeing the high prices fetched by apples grown in lower-altitude areas, where the fruit ripens earlier. “ Farmers from other areas began harvesting unripe apples and dispatching them to mandis. Many also put the fruit into CA storage ,” he said. CA storage concerns The premature harvesting has also revived concerns about the quality of apples being stored for sale later in the season. Apples harvested before reaching proper maturity are more…