Washington state apple growers say they’re happy about a series of developments that will reopen India to U.S. apples.
“This is very positive news,” Todd Fryhover, Washington Apple Commission president, told board members at a meeting this week.
“India’s a very important market for Washington apple growers,” said Mark Powers, president of Northwest Horticulture Council. In 2017, India was Washington apple growers’ second-largest export market.
India dropped to 12th place during a recent trade dispute, but the Washington State Department of Agriculture worked out the technical details necessary to issue non-GMO certificate to apple growers. The process will involve inspections and other protocols. “We and WSDA have finally gotten many of the details worked through,” said Powers. “The process is underway, and we’ve been in parallel discussions with USDA.”
Starting next week, Powers said he expects shippers will be able to start sending apples to India again.
