Has the ‘confrontation culture’ hit the fruit market? Is the once saccharine and ambrosial market now beckoning a battle in the offing? The Indian consumers are the commanders and decide the fate of the skirmish. Their choice will encourage the imported or Indian fruits as they clash head-on in the marketplace. In the saga of India’s exposure to fruits, Mr Tarun Arora, Director of Finance and Operations of IG International, shares some talking points as to where this rivalry is heading:
The diverse fruit fairs
India is home to various fruits and, ostensibly, a prime orchard for the world. Being the second-largest producer of fruits globally, the Indian fresh fruit market is home to 50 indigenous fruit varieties. In addition, our lands churn out fruits for export. Many fruits are imported for consumption, the fruit processing industry, and for other commercial uses. The stack of imported fruits is generally not grown in India due to the conditions required for their cultivation.
Two significant reasons underpin the import of fruits
The first is to restock, which ensures round-the-year availability. The second is to acquaint the ambrosial taste and exclusivity of the first-rate club range of fresh-fruit produce. The club varieties usually involve a branded, IP-protected trademark and some form of licensing engaged in growing and marketing the product. Aesthetically, the club variety of fruits manifests a superior product in an omni-human sense; they are brightly coloured. They look beautiful, fresh, complete, and premium. From a vantage point, these fruits are exclusive and are cultivated with unshared attention. The dedicated meliorate them to grow organically, and they are rich in nutritional abundance and perfect taste. Even in this array of crowded fruit markets where multiple varieties are available, the imported gamut of fruits is making a footprint based on their exclusivity, nutritional benefits, and aesthetic appeal.
Palpating the genesis within the pulp
When a market gives multiple choices to all stakeholders, its description is considered perfect. The added benefits of fruits sourced from overseas markets have created a new segment. This new segment has seen a burgeoning demand ascribed to the contemporary ethos that encompasses health, fitness, and premium preferences for diet and a more informed consumer. Imported fruits have conspicuously been established as nutrient-rich products cultivated in the best organic biomes. Today, globally, fruits play a role on our plates alongside our food or even as an independent preparation in fruit cuisines and fruit dishes. Fruits sourced from overseas markets have shown a far greater capacity to withstand the heat and other cooking strains to a far greater extent and retain their natural flavour, taste, and shape. These properties make imported fruits a preferred choice for chefs and curators of these delicacies.
Comparing the exotic fruits sourced from foreign markets and the indigenous Indian varieties would make little sense as both the segments are purpose-built and unrivalled within their classifications. Moreover, both the categories exhibit a very healthy growth rate, which is a generous occurrence since more people consume fruits. Coming back to the initial query, which was – are Indians buying foreign fruits or Indian fruits? The answer is that both the segments are being invested in. There is no rivalry; instead, both categories have a conspicuous camaraderie.
Conclusion
The fresh-fruit market is becoming a sought-after space since the pandemic, as fruit consumption in India is seen as a very healthy and wholesome habit. As the internet offers a panoptic view to the Indian consumer, they are looking at imported fruits and Indian fruits as just a single commodity, more than that, a catalyst of salubriousness. A best of both worlds is engendered to the customer by some top companies with an efficient supply chain of providing high-quality fresh fruits.
