Parag Shirname (Trade and Investment Queensland), Gian Chand Arora (IG International), Susan Jenkin (Ironbark Citrus) and Tarun Arora (IG International)

Mumbai-based produce importer IG International has launched India's first ever sales campaign for Australian-grown Fremont mandarins, grown by Ironbark Citrus in the state of Queensland.

In a release, IG International director Tarun Arora said the "wonderful" mandarins were very low in calories and were widely regarded as one of the important "cleansing" fruit.

"Two small mandarins supply 35% of the daily recommended requirement of Vitamin C. They are very popular throughout the world today," Arora said.

Ironbark Citrus CEO Susan Jenkin highlighted great opportunities in India as one of the world's fastest growing markets.

"We are delighted to partner with IG International to promote our product in India. Our premium mandarins are extremely popular throughout the world and are sold in many countries," Jenkin said.

"We are confident that India will become an important market for this wonderful fruit."

The Fremont variety of mandarin is small-to-medium sized with a flat oval shape and a rich red-orange coloring. The fruit is easy to peel with some seeds.

Ironbark Citrus produces 90,400 cartons of Fremont mandarins annually and ships them in 9kg cartons.

The grower, based 171km west of Maryborough in Munduberra, Ironbark Citrus has a HACCP-based (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) quality assurance system in place called 'Freshcare'. It is committed to ecologically sustainable agriculture, with an integrated Pest Management program and takes pride in producing a 'clean and green' product.

IG International is a leading produce player in the Indian market, processing more than 1,500 refrigerated containers from 20 countries each year, with distribution to 27 wholesale outlets across the country.

The company's subsidiary IG Supply Chain Pvt. Ltd. is one of India's top five firms in temperature controlled warehousing with a capacity of 25,000 pallets and facilities in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Jaipur and Amravati. It has a fleet of 50 refrigerated trucks.

In the 2014 financial year, IG International imported 30,000 metric tons (MT) of fresh fruits, including apples, cherries, kiwifruit, oranges, plums, pears and sweet tamarind.

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