All-purpose container for apples this season

The government has recently released a notice specifying the quantity of apples and layers that must be packaged in a universal box, with an average weight of around 20 kg, after announcing the usage of universal carton for apple packing starting this season.

Telescopic cartons have been replaced by universal boxes, which may be stretched to accommodate more fruit layers inside a box. Consequently, rather than 20–22 kg of fruit, the telescoping cartons could hold up to 35–36 kg of fruit.

A universal carton is a one-piece box that cannot be opened up to accommodate other trays on top of it. Regardless of the amount of fruit that is put within the box, each box will weigh about 20 kg. “Last season, in spite of resistance from certain quarters, we ordered the sale of apples by weight in response to a demand from the producers. We have now complied with another request to package the fruit in a uniform container. There will be around 20 kilos of fruit in this carton. Long term, this would be very beneficial to the farmers, according to Minister of Horticulture Jagat Singh Negi.

On this particular instance, Negi chastised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for breaking his prior commitments to apple producers. “The prime minister had pledged to raise import taxes on fruit originating from many nations. He broke his commitment, nonetheless. Rather, the import tax on apples originating in the US has been lowered, thus impacting the apple cultivators in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kashmir, Negi said.

The move has been well received by apple farmers, who have long demanded that universal cartons be used. In order to get higher prices, companies would no longer need to stuff 30-35 kg of fruit into a box as they did with telescoping cartons.

However, the farmers argue that in order to protect them from loss, freight should be charged based on weight rather than the quantity of boxes.

“With the usage of universal boxes, the quantity of boxes will rise for each producer. Growers will lose money if freight charges are based only on the quantity of boxes. According to Progressive Growers Association President Lokender Bisht, it would have to be billed based on weight.