Why Kinnaur apples are the best?

A kg of Kinnauri apple costs Rs 300 - 390 now and there would be no respite in the coming months too. Growers and traders say prices of fresh Kinnaur apples which will hit the market in September will remain firm because flash floods in mid-June have damaged the apple crop and halved production. 

Apples from Kinnaur, known for their natural sweetness, color, succulence, and prolonged shelf life, are grown at an altitude of over 10,000 feet. Among the popular varieties of Kinnauri apples are Royal, Golden, Red Golden, Red Delicious, and Scarlet Spur. 

Apple crops in Uttarakhand have been completely wiped out due to flash floods and cloudbursts.The mountainous state used to produce 5 lakh boxes (of 20 kg each) of apples which were consumed locally.

 Traders say the absence of this crop will put pressure on prices in the coming months. The plucking season in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand begins in July end and the crop hits the market in August. Kinnauri apples hit the market in mid-September when other apple varieties have already flooded the market. While other apples have a shelf life of two months, when stored well the Kinnaur apples have a shelf life of four months.

Prices of apple have already climbed by 25%-30% this year. We are hearing that production in Kinnaur has been affected though other regions of Himachal have recorded a bumper crop. But going by the trend, prices are likely to remain firm for quality apple this year."