(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
For the first time, fresh figs from Purandar taluka of
Maharashtra's Pune district with GI tags have been exported to
Europe. The Purandar Highlands Farmers Producers Company (PHFPC)
has managed to successfully export a consignment to Germany. The
export was facilitated by the Maharashtra State Agriculture
Marketing Board (MSAMB). Fresh figs from Purandar is highly
perishable, has never been exported before this.
Rohan Ursal, chairman of the FPC, said the first shipment was
sent to Pilz Schindler GmbH, located in Hamburg, Germany. He said
the farmer producer company has been working for the last two
months on improving the shelf life of the fruit. Fresh figs while
being a rich source of nutrients, are highly perishable; their
quality deteriorates within hours of being plucked. Over the last
two months, the FPC has been conducting trials with StePac, a
packaging solution company from Israel, as well as Bayer Crop
Sciences' food chain department. After preparing and following
specific protocols in packhouse tests, the figs can be preserved in
perfect condition for 15 days, Trend reports citing Financial
Express .
Following the success of this consignment, the farmer producer
company intends to begin working on full-fledged exports to Europe
later this year and also tap the Pan-Asian market, Ursal said. The
company is also building its presence in the domestic market and
has been able to send shipments out of Maharashtra through air
cargo to markets of Hyderabad and other areas. Established in
January 2021, Purandar Highlands has been working in the segments
of fresh figs and custard apples. The company has been sending figs
under the 'Super Figs' brand name to seven states, including Delhi,
Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Hyderabad. Sahyadri Farms
of Nashik, Tata Trent Hypermarket and other supermarkets are also
sourcing the fruit from Purandar Highlands.
At present, the FPC has been processing one tonne figs on a
daily basis, and is working with 260 odd farmers. It intends to
expand operations to include more farmers, besides inviting retail
chains to to set up pack houses in Purandar Taluka, he said. Turkey
is the largest producer of figs in the world with 0.3 million
tonnes. The total production of fig in the world is roughly 1.26
million tonne.
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