Washington shippers cheer as India apple imports resume

YAKIMA – Washington apple shippers are cheering the news that India has reopened all of its ports to apple imports.

The Yakima Herald-Republic says India has been Washington’s third-largest apple export market in recent years.

The Northwest Horticultural Council’s Chris Schlect says the Indian government last week reversed a decision it made in September to restrict apples from the U.S. and other countries to just one major port.

The reopening comes as the major shipping season for Washington apples gets underway. It typically runs from January through March.

Washington exported about $100 million worth of apples to India in 2015.