LONDON: For the first time in over 50 years Indians will be able to munch on British apples, and even make quintessentially British dishes such as apple pie and apple crumble, using Bramley apples now that the UK can finally export its world-famous fruit varieties to India.
There are hundreds of varieties of British apples grown in the UK, including Braeburn, Bramley, Cox and Royal Gala, which can now be exported to India following the enhanced trade partnership (ETP) agreed between Indian PM Narendra Modi and British PM Boris Johnson on May 4 as a precursor to a free trade deal. Trade barriers addressed by the ETP include lifting restrictions to enable fruit producers across the UK to export British apples, pears and quince to India for the first time.
Until now only 3% of Britain’s apple crop has been exported overseas. The move will give a big boost to British fruit growers.
International trade secretary Liz Truss tweeted: “Our apples are now on the way to India for the first time in 50 years thanks to the ETP.”
Ross Goatham, managing director at AC Goatham & Son, the UK’s largest apple- and pear-growing, cold storage and packing operation, said: “India is an outlet that we have looked at for a number of years but, unfortunately, we were precluded at the time because of a ban running back to the 1970s. With the announcements made the other week of the trade deal, we were pretty much straight on the front foot, and, I think, we’ve had about 20 Indian firms contact us recently asking can they buy our apples. We look forward to opening discussions with interested parties in India.”
International trade minister Ranil Jayawardena said: “India is a huge opportunity, it’s a market of 1.4 billion people, and our ETP is already helping to unlock benefits for our British businesses.”
In June, the first consignment of GI-tagged Bhagalpuri Jardalu mangoes had travelled from Bihar to Lucknow to London.
There are hundreds of varieties of British apples grown in the UK, including Braeburn, Bramley, Cox and Royal Gala, which can now be exported to India following the enhanced trade partnership (ETP) agreed between Indian PM Narendra Modi and British PM Boris Johnson on May 4 as a precursor to a free trade deal. Trade barriers addressed by the ETP include lifting restrictions to enable fruit producers across the UK to export British apples, pears and quince to India for the first time.
Until now only 3% of Britain’s apple crop has been exported overseas. The move will give a big boost to British fruit growers.
International trade secretary Liz Truss tweeted: “Our apples are now on the way to India for the first time in 50 years thanks to the ETP.”
Ross Goatham, managing director at AC Goatham & Son, the UK’s largest apple- and pear-growing, cold storage and packing operation, said: “India is an outlet that we have looked at for a number of years but, unfortunately, we were precluded at the time because of a ban running back to the 1970s. With the announcements made the other week of the trade deal, we were pretty much straight on the front foot, and, I think, we’ve had about 20 Indian firms contact us recently asking can they buy our apples. We look forward to opening discussions with interested parties in India.”
International trade minister Ranil Jayawardena said: “India is a huge opportunity, it’s a market of 1.4 billion people, and our ETP is already helping to unlock benefits for our British businesses.”
In June, the first consignment of GI-tagged Bhagalpuri Jardalu mangoes had travelled from Bihar to Lucknow to London.
