Farmers attributed the decline partly to the premature harvesting of varieties like Kullu Delicious and Delicious (file photo) | Photo Credit: IMRAN NISSAR

Harvesting premature apples in an attempt to cash in on high prices has begun to weigh on apple prices in wholesale markets across the country.

The arrival of unripe produce has also raised concerns over the quality of apples being put into controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage and the possibility of losses when the fruit is taken out for sale months later.

Farmers said that a 15-16 kg carton of apples is currently selling for ₹700-1,000, down from ₹1,100-1,700 a few weeks ago.

They attributed the decline partly to the premature harvesting of varieties like 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 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.

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 vulnerable to storage disorders, including superficial scald, which can cause darkening of the skin and reduce the fruit’s market value after it is taken out of storage.

Last year, prolonged rainfall triggered fruit drop in several areas, prompting many farmers to harvest apples before they had fully matured and store them in controlled atmosphere (CA) facilities. However, when the fruit was taken out of storage several months later, a significant portion had deteriorated, resulting in losses for growers.

“Many farmers are repeating the same this year," said a CA storage owner, who declined to be named.

He said that the CA storages were meant for the A-grade apples.

Concerns arise as Kashmir’s CA storage capacity remains well below the industry’s requirements. The region currently has approximately 2.92 lakh metric tonnes of CA storage capacity, compared to an estimated requirement of 6 lakh tonnes, resulting in a shortfall of more than half the required capacity.

As storage is increasingly used to stagger supplies and sell apples later in the season, industry players say that both the quality of the fruit entering storage and the adequacy of the storage infrastructure will be critical in preventing post-harvest losses.

Published on September 23, 2026