The grape season has begun with the arrival of grapes in Nashik. The proportion of grapes arrival is very low i.e 25 per cent only as compared to the grapes arrival during the same period last year.
“On Thursday (December 9, 2010), the grapes were sold at Rs 45 a kg at Nashik Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC). The regular arrival of grapes in Nashik markets is expected by January 15, 2011.
Last year, the arrival of grapes had begun on October 15 in Nashik APMC, with wholesale rate of Rs 43 per kg. This year, arrival of grapes has delayed due to unseasonal rains that had badly affected vineyards in Nashik district in last couple of months.
Om Jay Mata Dee, a fruit trading company, bought 1,500 quintals of grapes on Thursday from the grape-growers at Rs 45 a kg.
“The grape season has begun for the last couple of weeks, but grapes are available with a very low quantity. Grapes are sweet and sour in taste and contain low proportion of sugar. The regular arrival of grapes is expected to begin by January 15, 2011,” Bapu Pingle of Om Jay Mata Dee told Business Standard.