Cold storage units across Kashmir have started receiving apple consignments for the new season, with most facilities already fully booked amid growing demand from fruit growers who are seeking to protect their produce from price fluctuations during the peak harvesting period.
According to the details available, the demand for controlled storage has increased significantly after growers who stored their crop last season managed to secure comparatively better returns by selling their produce later, when market conditions improved.
With bookings completed months in advance at many facilities, growers who are yet to arrange storage space are now finding it difficult to secure capacity for their produce.
Cold storage operators, meanwhile, said they are being more selective about the quality of apples being accepted this season and are largely insisting on single-grade and properly sorted produce.
They said accepting mixed-grade consignments had proved costly last season, as apples of different qualities and maturity levels stored together resulted in a portion of the produce deteriorating or rotting, causing losses to both growers and storage operators.
“Last year, some consignments contained mixed grades. When such produce was kept together, the quality of some apples deteriorated and a portion of the stock had to be discarded. This year, we are therefore insisting on proper grading and sorting before accepting the produce,” Shahid Ahmad a cold storage operator said.
Another unit holder said the objective was to ensure that only suitable-quality apples enter the chambers so that the stored crop can remain in good condition for a longer period.
“We are accepting properly graded produce. If different grades and qualities are mixed, the risk of deterioration increases. Growers have also been advised to sort the fruit properly before bringing it to the storage facility,” he said.
Growers said the rush for cold storage space is largely linked to their experience last season, when market conditions remained challenging during the peak arrival period.
“Last year, a large quantity of apples reached markets within a short period, particularly after disruptions on the highway. Prices remained under pressure at that time, while those who had stored their produce were able to wait and sell when the market improved,” a grower said.
Another grower said early booking had become increasingly important for farmers who intend to store a portion of their crop. “Many growers have booked space much earlier this year because they do not want to face the situation at the last moment. Those who have not booked are now finding it difficult to get space,” he said.
Cold storage operators said reservations began soon after the previous season’s stored crop was cleared, with growers increasingly viewing storage as a means of managing market risks.
“Most of our capacity was booked months ago. The response this year is much stronger because growers have seen the benefit of storing apples during periods when market rates are low. The remaining capacity has also been largely booked,” an operator said.
The operators said several units have begun receiving produce, while others are scheduled to commence intake as the harvesting season gathers momentum.
However, they stressed that growers should not treat cold storage as a substitute for proper post-harvest management.
“Good-quality apples, proper grading, careful packing and timely transportation are important. Cold storage can preserve suitable produce, but it cannot compensate for poor-quality or damaged fruit,” another unit holder said.
Growers said the increasing dependence on cold storage reflects the changing dynamics of Kashmir’s horticulture sector, where a large volume of apples enters markets within a relatively short period.
“When arrivals are high, growers often have little bargaining power and are compelled to sell at whatever rates are available. Storage gives them an option to hold back a portion of the crop and wait for better market conditions,” a grower said.
At the same time, growers maintained that cold storage alone cannot address the broader challenges facing the horticulture sector. They called for improved transportation infrastructure, better market regulation, timely availability of market information and measures to prevent sudden disruptions in the movement of fruit.
The early exhaustion of storage capacity across many facilities has also highlighted the growing demand for controlled-atmosphere and cold storage infrastructure in the Valley, as growers increasingly look for alternatives to distress sales during the peak harvesting period—(KNO)
