INI Farms, a subsidiary of AgroStar, an agritech startup, has conducted a trial shipment of high-quality pomegranate exports from India to the USA, opening up new avenues for the export of Indian fresh fruits, the company announced today.
The pilot was executed by INI Farms in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, and Pomegranate Research Centre, Solapur. The first consignment of 150 boxes (450 kg) of INI Farms’ – ‘Kimaye’ branded pomegranates has been air-shipped to New York. The export venture was virtually flagged off by Chairman, APEDA at the Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi (Navi Mumbai). The export of pomegranates to the USA highlights the opportunities that lie ahead for Indian farmers and the country’s fruits & vegetables exports on a global scale.
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Highlighting the development, Purnima Khandelwal, CEO, INI Farms said, “The efforts of the entire INI Farms’ team over the years have helped put the Indian (pomegranate) farmers on the world map by making great quality Indian fruits available around the world. ‘Kimaye’ is now a well-known global consumer F&V brand out of India, synonymous with great quality and safety. We are delighted to enable this significant trial to establish India’s pomegranate trade with the USA and excited about the opportunities and increased livelihoods it can bring for our farmers.”
Speaking at the occasion, Shardul Sheth, Co-founder & CEO, AgroStar, said, “We are proud to be the pioneers in the industry to successfully ship great quality pomegranates grown by Indian farmers to one of the most quality-conscious markets in the world, the USA. This pilot is an important milestone in our journey of opening up new horizons for Indian farmers and contributing to the growth of F&V exports from India. We are grateful to the role of APEDA, NPPO, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, Pomegranate Research Centre, Solapur and US APHIS for their role in achieving this milestone.”
