Grape Exports Increased

Nashik: Nashik has witnessed 45.52 per cent growth in export of grapes in FY08 (December-April season) compared with last year. As a result the city has earned foreign exchange worth Rs 174.20 crore. In the last six years, grape export from the district has gone up over seven-fold, from 3,775.37 metric tonnes (mt) in FY02 to 27,650 mt in FY08. Nashik comprises 55 per cent of total exports of the commodity from the country and 75 per cent of Maharashtra. Local firms such as Mahindra Shubhlabh Services (MSSL) exported maximum quantity of grapes this year totalling 2599.29 mt, followed by Freshthrop Fruits (1,851.39 mt), Fieldfresh Foods (1,699.2 mt)and Namdhari Farm Fresh (1,066.15 mt).