The story
Sopore sits in the heart of north Kashmir's apple orchards, and its fruit mandi grew into the valley's biggest wholesale market. Growers bring apples in wooden or cardboard boxes during the harvest, and commission agents load trucks for Delhi, Punjab and markets across India. The mandi is often described as Asia's second-largest fruit market after Azadpur. Highway closures during harvest and weather damage are the biggest risks.
In numbers
Sopore alone exported 289.22 thousand metric tonnes of fruit during 2024-25, generating a turnover of ₹1,387.50 crore.
Kashmir Life — Jammu Kashmir exports over 637,000 tonnes of fruit in 2024–25 · 2026
Ways in for a newcomer
- Controlled-atmosphere storage to sell apples off-season
- Grading, packing and box supply
- Apple processing — juice, vinegar, dried slices
- Trucking and cold-chain to plains markets
Problems the cluster faces
- Highway closures during harvest
- Hail and weather damage
- Competition from imported apples
- High transport and packing costs
Businesses to start here
Cold Storage (Potato, 2000 MT) →Dehydrated Apple Slices →Natural Fruit Vinegar →Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider →Walnut Processing (Kernel) Unit →Corrugated Box Unit →