Sopore Baramulla Apple Orchard Kashmir Jammu

Sopore in Baramulla district is the Apple Capital of India, producing over 70 percent of Kashmir valley apple output from 1,50,000 hectares of mountain orchards. Kashmir Delicious, Maharaji, Red Gold, and American Ambri varieties ripen from August to October at 1600-2400 metre altitude on Himalayan terraces above the Jhelum River. Cooperative orchardists aggregate produce and sell to mandis in Sopore, Delhi, and Mumbai, with cold-chain arrangements extending to West Asia export through Srinagar International Airport. Apple production provides seasonal employment to over 3 million workers in Baramulla, Kupwara, Shopian, and Pulwama districts. Kashmir Apple Growers Cooperative has been pursuing organic certification and direct-to-consumer premium marketing to reduce dependence on commission agents. Box packing cooperatives in Sopore town handle 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of export-grade apple annually.