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Key Points

APEDA successfully sent India's first commercial sea shipment of pomegranates to the US, marking a major milestone in agricultural exports. The Bhagwa variety, sourced directly from Maharashtra farms, maintained quality during transit, proving sea freight viability. This breakthrough was achieved through APEDA's collaboration with USDA and ICAR-NRC for Pomegranate. The initiative aims to boost farmer incomes and expand India's fresh fruit presence in premium global markets.

Key Points: APEDA Ships First Indian Pomegranates to US by Sea

  • First sea shipment of Indian pomegranates to the US
  • Bhagwa variety gains global market access
  • APEDA-USDA partnership eases export process
  • Farmers benefit from direct sourcing
3 min read

APEDA sends first commercial sea shipment of Pomegranates to USA

India's first commercial sea shipment of Bhagwa pomegranates reaches the US, boosting exports with APEDA's support and USDA collaboration.

"Indian farmers will achieve better realisation when their fruit gets exported to premium international markets like the USA. – Abhishek Dev, APEDA Chairman"

New Delhi, April 19

In a major boost to India's fresh fruit exports, the first commercial sea shipment of Indian pomegranates from Maharashtra has successfully reached the United States.

According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the shipment arrived in New York and was well received for its excellent quality and rich appearance.

The ministry stated on Saturday that "In a historic initiative towards introducing Indian Pomegranates to distant markets, a landmark commercial sea shipment of the prized Indian Bhagwa variety of Pomegranate has successfully arrived in New York."

This marks a significant step in introducing Indian pomegranates, especially the popular Bhagwa variety, to distant markets like the U.S. Traditionally, Indian pomegranates were sent by air.

However, this shipment was sent by sea -- a more cost-effective and sustainable option. The success of this sea shipment shows that Indian fruits can maintain their quality even during long journeys.

The ministry also informed that the export was made possible with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with USDA-APHIS, NPPO (India), and ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur.

After trial shipments and successful static trials that extended shelf life to 60 days, APEDA flagged off the sea consignment of 4,620 boxes (14 tons) in February 2024.

The consignment was sent by Kay Bee Exports from Mumbai and sourced directly from farms, helping farmers benefit from global trade. APEDA's pre-clearance program with the USDA played a key role in easing export procedures.

Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA, remarked, "The Government of India has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market. APEDA has been supporting the export of Indian fruits like Mangoes and Pomegranates to the USA by funding the pre-clearance program. Indian farmers will achieve better realisation when their fruit gets exported to premium international markets like the USA. Indian mangoes have already reached annual exports of around 3500 tons and we hope that Pomegranates will also reach such strong numbers in the years to come".

The commerce ministry also highlighted that in the financial year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tons of Pomegranates worth USD 69.08 million. This year, there has been a significant growth in Pomegranate exports from India registering a growth of 21 per cent with a value of USD 59.76 million in the period April - January, 2024-2025. Key export destinations include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman and the USA.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
This is fantastic news for our farmers! 👏 The Bhagwa variety is truly special - sweet, juicy and packed with antioxidants. So proud to see Indian produce making waves internationally. Hope this leads to better prices for our hardworking farmers.
R
Rahul S.
Interesting move to switch from air to sea shipment. The cost savings must be significant, but I wonder how the quality compares after such a long journey? The article says it was well received, but would love to see some consumer feedback from the US market.
A
Anjali M.
As someone from Maharashtra, this makes me so happy! Our pomegranates are the best in the world 🌍❤️ The Bhagwa variety from Solapur is legendary. Hope this opens more opportunities for other Indian fruits too!
S
Sanjay P.
While this is great news, I hope APEDA ensures fair compensation reaches the actual farmers and not just middlemen. We've seen in other export sectors how the benefits often don't trickle down to the producers. The system needs proper checks and balances.
M
Meena R.
The shelf life extension to 60 days is impressive! That's some serious food science at work. Indian agricultural research doesn't get enough credit. Kudos to ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate!
V
Vikram J.
First mangoes, now pomegranates! 🎉 Next should be Indian Alphonso mangoes - nothing compares to their flavor. The US market would go crazy for them if they could experience the real thing.

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