Adani Agri Fresh hikes apple procurement price by ₹5 per kg in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, September 15: In a significant move, Adani Agri Fresh in Himachal Pradesh has hiked the procurement price of apples by ₹5 per kg. The price of good quality apples has now increased from ₹80 per kg to ₹85 per kg. The decision has been taken in response to rising apple prices in fruit mandis, where a box of high-quality apples is currently selling for ₹1,800 to ₹2,300.

Despite these market rates, apple growers are getting between ₹1,300 to ₹1,500 per box from companies like Adani. This price disparity has led to many apple growers choosing to sell their best produce directly to the markets rather than to purchasing companies. To counter this trend and attract more growers, Adani Agri Fresh has adjusted its procurement price.

The company, which operates the largest apple procurement operation in the state with a controlled atmosphere (CA) store capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes, aims to maintain a steady flow of good quality apples. By raising the procurement price, Adani hopes to encourage growers to sell their premium apples directly to them. Poor quality apples stored for long periods of time are likely to spoil, making quality control crucial to Adani’s long-term storage and market strategy.

Last year, due to a shortage of apples, Adani purchased apples directly from mandis to meet its procurement targets. This year, the company is considering a similar move if their direct procurement falls short of the required quantity.

This price hike is expected to provide some relief to apple growers, giving them better returns for their produce and maintaining a steady supply of quality apples for Adani’s storage and future market sales.