The fruit merchants of Mumbai have been importing apples in the off-season periods since last year, when the apple crop in the country was only 50 per cent of the total demand. These apples are crisper, tastier and of better quality compared to the dry, shrunken and bland Indian apples (which had been in cold storages for the about 6-7 months) currently available in the market, said Chennai Fruits Commission Agents Association secretary, Mohammed Rafi.

The apples from cold storages are being sold to individuals through fruit stalls and retail foodchains in the city, including Food World and Nilgiris, atRs 80 to Rs 85. The imported apples are priced at Rs 100 to Rs 120 in the retail market, mainly upper end segment of the Chennai population are lapping it up.

In fact, some fruit merchants here feel that now there may be no need to store Indian apples for the off season period. Indian apples can be sold upto February-March every year and imports from April can cater to off season demands.

The present apple imports of 15 to 20 tonnes per week is expected to increase, at least double in the next year. Chennai, at present, receives 400 to 450 boxes a week. Till the end of June apples from New Zealand were in the market, while South African apples have started arriving from the first week of July. Fruit merchants in Mumbai are also trying to import apples from the US.

Apples will be imported till August when the season for Indian apples begins and will go on till December. An average of 200 to 250 boxes, containing 18 kg each, per day are sold in Chennai alone and therefore about 50,000 apples are put incold storages here to meet the off-season demand.

Considering that the lower height apple crop in Shimla, where majority of apple cultivation takes place, the output is expected to fail this year and upper height crop will reach the market only by September. This would result in a larger quantity of this fruit imports till September.