India's custard apple market has shown marked improvement this season, following challenging conditions in 2024. "Timely rainfall after last year's drought in Purandar has led to excellent fruit quality," says Rohan Satish Ursal, Director of Purandar Highlands Farmer Producer Company (FPC). "The season typically runs from August to February, and this year's harvest has generated strong interest from both domestic and export buyers."
Despite some supply unevenness caused by fluctuating rainfall, Ursal notes, "Our custard apples have better size, sweetness, and texture compared to last year's drought-affected crop." According to him, India grows several custard apple varieties, but most are consumed domestically due to the fruit's fragile nature and short shelf life. "Our farm grows the Phule Purandar variety, which has a creamy texture and sweet, distinctive flavour. For now, this is the only variety we export as we want to build a strong identity around a single, high-quality product with clear provenance."
© Purandar Highlands FPC
Ursal shares how Purandar Highlands FPC's success with past exports is supporting their current efforts to enter the custard apple market more broadly. "The UAE remains the primary export market, driven by ethnic communities familiar with the fruit and gourmet buyers seeking exotic produce. New enquiries are also emerging from the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore, where retailers are exploring niche tropical fruits." He adds, "We have already built trust and reputation by shipping fresh figs and custard apples to Asian and European destinations, as well as exporting their patented fig juices to the UK, Poland, and the USA."
This year, exporters are working with tighter margins. Ursal emphasizes, "Farmgate prices have increased by around 10–12% owing to stronger domestic demand. However, we believe in honoring export commitments even if margins are smaller in the short term to build long-term market confidence."
© Purandar Highlands FPC
For now, Ursal and his team are looking to address operational challenges caused by the fruit's delicate nature. "With its short shelf life, custard apples require careful handling during air cargo transport and meticulous post-harvest management. Looking ahead, we aim to maintain steady weekly shipments, refining processes from farm to logistics to ensure consistent quality and reliability in export markets."
For more information:
Rohan Satish Ursal
Purandar Highlands PFC
Tel: +91 98 81 001 119
Email: [email protected]
www.purandarhighlands.in