Areko cherries and Scentrose plums from Shopian and Pulwama were dispatched towards Singapore in a shipment flagged off on July 16, 2026, according to APEDA's July 18 release.
The agency described harvesting, grading, packing and cold-chain transport as parts of the operation. These stages matter because a premium fruit can lose saleable quality after harvest, even when it leaves the orchard in good condition.
UC Davis's cherry-handling guidance explains that higher temperature and physical injury increase respiration, while impact and compression cause pitting or bruising. Cooling and careful packing therefore address different sources of deterioration.
The guidance also notes that cherries respond little to ethylene and that it does not accelerate their ripening. Export handling is consequently about preserving suitable harvested fruit, not assuming transport will improve an immature cherry.
For the Kashmir supply chain, the Singapore route connects orchard practices with grading, physical protection and temperature management during transport. Preserving quality through each stage is central to the value of the fruit on arrival.
