Indian fruit supplier Kay Bee Exports has shipped its first ever pomegranates to U.S. shores.

Consignments of Bhagwa have reached the U.S. following sustained efforts by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Maharashtra state authorities.

After undergoing irradiation treatment, the trial air shipment of 324 boxes was sent through a preclearance irradiation program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Mumbai.

Kay Bee Exports has been shipping Indian mangoes to the U.S. for around a decade using an irradiation treatment which eliminates quarantine pests, extends shelf life and improves flavor, according to CEO Kaushal Khakhar.

The same treatment has now been approved by the USDA for pomegranates.

"We’ve been supplying mangoes to the U.S. for many years, but to export pomegranates is a historic moment for us," he tells www.freshfruitportal.com.

"India is the only country in the world with 365 day availability and fresh harvest. This allows us to ship pomegranates to all parts of the world during the receiving country’s off-season.

“This is the result of a significant amount of work which involves various authorities on the Indian and U.S. side. I’m very pleased that we have now reached this stage with the first shipments now in the U.S."

Khakhar says the irradiation treatment mitigates several pests that are of concern to the U.S. authorities and alongside this exporters are required to ensure there is no trace of other pests such as Tenuipalpus granati, Tenuipalpus punicae and Xanthomonas axonopodis.

"We are excited at being able to ship the first fruit to the U.S. and we look forward to working with new customers and promoting this excellent fruit from India."

The Bhagwa variety has a sweet flavor with soft seeds.

www.freshfruitportal.com