India has made its first export of ready-to-drink fig juice, produced from the GI-tagged Purandar figs, to Poland.
New Delhi [India], August 17 : The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has played a key role in facilitating the export of India's first ready-to-drink fig juice to Poland, as announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.
The fig juice, produced by Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd., made its debut at the APEDA Pavilion during SIAL 2023 in Greater Noida, New Delhi.
At the event, the ready-to-drink fig juice garnered attention and won awards, highlighting its potential in international markets.
This ready-to-drink fig juice is crafted from GI-tagged Purandar Figs.
The product has been granted a provisional patent, marking a significant innovation in the country's agricultural sector.
The export of this fig juice represents a major milestone in promoting India's unique agricultural products on the global stage, according to the ministry's statement.
The fig juice was also featured at Macfrut 2024 in Rimini, Italy, with the support of APEDA, further enhancing its global presence.
The event received positive feedback from buyers, including an inquiry from MG Sales SP in Wroclaw, Poland, which led to this landmark export.
This achievement underscores the potential of Indian agro-products and highlights the crucial role of Farmers Producer Companies (FPCs) in advancing sustainable agricultural practices and exports.
Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd. (PH-FPC), founded in 2021 by 14 dedicated full-time farmers known for their extensive expertise in farming and related practices, is also recognized as a startup by the Government of India.
In its efforts to bring innovation to the agriculture sector, the startup has initiated primary processing activities, such as pulping and slicing. The company's R&D team is working on developing unique and innovative processed products made from figs and custard apples, as mentioned on the company's LinkedIn page.
According to their LinkedIn page, the company plans to introduce specialized sorting, grading, and packaging practices for these delicate crops, aiming to bring unique processed products directly to global markets from Purandar.
The ministry reaffirmed its support for the product, noting that since the first export of fresh GI-tagged Purandar Figs to Hamburg in 2022, APEDA has closely collaborated with smallholder farmers.
This accomplishment not only highlights the potential of Indian agro-products but also emphasizes the importance of research and development in enhancing the value of agricultural exports, according to the ministry's statement.