The export of fresh fruits and vegetables is likely to become hassle-free soon. The Government nodal agency, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), is mediating direct contact between Indian exporters and overseas retailers and aggregators.

Under the Direct-to-Retailer Export Promotion Programme, exporters are required to develop backward linkages with farmers for implementing the good agricultural practices for meeting the quality norms of overseas importers. As per the programme, the mode of transportation, storage, grading, value addition, processing and packaging too would be as per the specifications of the overseas importers.

After APEDA commissioned the services of Technopak to contact overseas importers, it managed to get in touch with 30 retailers and 28 aggregators in 12 countries, namely Germany, Italy, Greece, Belgium, UK, Sweden, France, Netherland, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Turkey. Importers in Poland, Russia and Hungary were also contacted. Most of these countries follow EurepGAP standards.

“We have received letters from 30 overseas importers expressing their willingness to buy fruits and vegetables from India on a sustained basis. Nineteen others have verbally communicated their willingness. We have, therefore, planned a big buyer-seller meet in Delhi in February next year,” says outgoing APEDA Chairman K.S. Money.

According to Money, leading Indian companies like ITC, Godrej, SICAL, Mahindra Shub Labh, Essar Agrotech, Global Green Company, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers, Heritage Foods, Namdhari Fresh, Dabur Foods, Bharti Fieldfresh, Khet Se Agri Produce and DSCL have already registered.

The leading overseas retailers keen to participate include Carrefour, El Corte Ingles, E Leclerc Siplec, Edeka, Sainsbury, Eroski, Dansk Supermarket, Auchan, Metro, Migros, Modelo Continante, Plus Retail, Superunie, Tesco and ICA. Among the global aggregators who are interested are Danisco, Everfresh AB, Nature’s Table, Saba Frukt & Gront AB, Community Foods, Ardo NV, Crops NV, Siatapoulos, Deas SA, Anaco Greeve International, Hage International, Valstar, Netra Agro BV, Scandimeat, Good Food Group, Le Cabanon, Interterra, Martin and Costa, Navimpex, Couniniotis Group, Dirafrost, Refreshco Holding and Symrise.

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