Consumers in Srinagar are paying high prices for windfall apples collected from orchards in Kashmir and sold in city markets. Traders are sourcing the fruit from districts such as Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla, and Kulgam, where apples have prematurely fallen due to heavy rains.
These apples, locally called giraan, are sold to vendors for Rs 3–5/kg (US$0.04–0.06) and later retailed in urban markets at Rs 35–40/kg (US$0.42–0.48). Farmers estimate fruit drop this season at 35–40%.
"The apples are not only of poor quality, but pockmarked with scab and other disease spots," said Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Lal Bazar. Some consumers reported finding worms inside the fruit. "When I cut one, there were worms inside it. Shockingly, such apples are being sold at almost premium prices," he added.
Farmers attribute the fruit drop to excessive rainfall. "Due to heavy rains, apple fruit absorbs excess water, gains weight, and often drops or becomes infested before it is collected," said Tariq Ahmad, an apple farmer from Shopian.
Windfall apples are usually used for processing, discarded, or fed to animals. However, informal traders are directing the fruit into retail markets. "They buy the fallen fruit for as little as Rs 3 to Rs 5 per kilogram and sell it to urban vendors," said an apple trader. "Once it reaches city markets, it is sold like regular apples, sometimes mixed with better-quality fruit."
Consumers argue that authorities are failing to regulate the sale of such fruit. "Selling windfall fruit without quality checks is a health risk," said Abdul Rashid Bhat from Dalgate.
Vendors, meanwhile, say they rely on this supply to meet demand. "We get these apples in bulk from orchards," said a fruit seller in Lal Chowk. "People buy them because the prices are low."
Hilal Ahmad Mir, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, said inspections are ongoing. He urged consumers to report violations via the department's toll-free number 104 and warned vendors that strict action would be taken against those selling substandard produce.
Source: Greater Kashmir