India approves import of Japanese apples (Ringo), first shipment to reach by year-end

NEW DELHI: People in India would soon be able to enjoy the juicy and sumptuous taste of Japanese apples – also called Ringo as the Indian government has finally approved the import of apples from Japan. Till now, the import of Japanese apples into India is completely prohibited to check the entry of pests though Japan is allowed to export peaches and cherries to India.

According to the Japanese Embassy and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) officials, the Indian authorities approved import the  Japanese apples during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to India in March this year. This approval is, however, subject to the pre-inspection approvals and clearance of quarantine procedures.

“In October, an Indian team of inspectors would visit apple farms and exports facilities in Japan to check the situation of the farms, and see how do they grow apples safely and naturally. We expect the first commercial shipment of apples to reach India after this sometime by the end of this year,” SUZUKI Takashi, Chief Director-General, JETRO, India and WATANABE Ikko, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan told Asian Community News (ACN) Network.

JETRO is a Japanese government-related organization to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and foreign countries, like APEDA.

When asked about the quantum of apples Japan would be exporting to India and its office’s exports projections, the Japanese officials said that the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan has conducted a study of the Indian market.

“However, since the high-quality and juicy Japanese apples are 2-3 times costlier than the USA apples, Japanese exporters may target the target audience in the creamy layer of the market in India,” said Ikko WATANABE.

India that is one of the major consumers of apple in the world. It largely depends upon apple imports from the USA after the Indian government banned apples from China sometime back. Earlier USA and China together would meet about 80% of the apple demand in India that imports more than 22 times the apples it produces.

The breakthrough in the negotiations between India and Japan took about 12 years as these started in 2010. Japan and India agreed on allowing only the trial shipments of Japanese apples into India in December 2019 only. Japan sent eight trial shipments of apples between 2020 and 2022.

Related article: First shipment of Japanese apples reaches India; after a wait of 10 years of wait

The very first trial shipment of apples from Aomori – the northernmost prefecture (state) of Japan, the mecca of apple growers, reached New Delhi in February 2020

As Jammu & Kashmir is known for producing quality apples in India, Aomori prefecture produces more than half of the total Japanese apple production in Japan and is best known for huge apple orchards here. Aomori grows more than 50 million tons of apples a year.

Japanese apples and peaches promotion event: 

Recently a select group of foods industry experts and those associated with the food & beverage industry laid their hands on the awfully sweet, juicy Japanese apples and peaches (Momo) with crispy texture in New Delhi.

This event, which was organised  by Embassy of Japan and JETRO aimed at introducing the characteristics of Japanese apples to Indian importers. And also, in this event, Japanese peaches were introduced to India for the first time.

Apples from Aomori Prefecture and peaches grown in Okayama, Fukushima and other prefectures were served along with desserts made with them.

Indian tasters said that Japanese apples are much sweeter and tasty than other ones available in Indian market.