Fruity affair! India exports 'golden ripe' variety of pineapples to UAE

The MD 2 pineapple, also known as "golden ripe" or "super sweet," has become the ‘gold standard’ in the pineapple industry, with significant cultivation in countries like Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Thailand

In a sweet boost to India’s fresh fruit exports, the first batch of MD 2 variety pineapples were exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Central government said in a statement on June 13.

The export was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which comes under the ministry of commerce and industry.

The first trial shipment, which comprised of 8.7 metric tons (650 boxes) of the prized MD 2 pineapples, marks the substantial addition to APEDA’s export basket, boosting the country’s presence in the global markets.

The MD 2 pineapple, also known as "golden ripe" or "super sweet," has become the ‘gold standard’ in the pineapple industry, with significant cultivation in countries like Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Thailand, the statement said.

"This marks a pivotal moment in India's agricultural export history, showcasing our ability to produce and supply premium quality pineapples to global markets," said APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev. "The MD 2 variety is renowned for its exceptional sweetness and quality, and we are thrilled to introduce it to the UAE market”, he added.

The fruit was produced in the Sindhudurg district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra with technical support from Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, the government statement said.