Kashmir vs Shimla apples this season: price gap, how to pick crisp apples, and what ICMR-NIN data says

Apple season is here, and this year the price gap between Kashmir and Shimla apples is wide. Here is what two reports from 28 October 2026 say, how to pick a good apple, and what ICMR-NIN's food tables list.

What is happening this season

Smaller Kashmir crop. Sopore Fruit Mandi traders told Hindusthan Samachar that hailstorms and substandard pesticides had cut production by around 40%, while demand across India stayed strong. Trucks now reach Delhi's Azadpur Mandi in 20–22 hours, down from 36.
Wide retail gap. In Surat, Divya Bhaskar reported Kashmir apples at ₹100–120/kg and Shimla apples at ₹200–250/kg on the same day.

Prices vary by city, grade and shop, so treat these as one market's snapshot.

How to pick a crisp apple

Check	Good sign	Skip it if
Feel	Firm, heavy for its size	Soft or spongy when pressed gently
Skin	Tight, smooth, glossy or naturally matte	Wrinkled or shrivelled
Spots	Even colour for the variety	Bruises, soft brown patches
Stem end	Clean, dry	Mouldy or wet around the stem
Smell	Fresh, light apple smell	Fermented or musty smell

Tip: colour alone isn't a guide. Some crisp varieties stay partly green or striped.

How to store apples

Keep them cold. Apples stay crisp longer in the fridge than on the counter.
Store them apart. Apples release ethylene, which can speed ripening of nearby fruit and vegetables.
Use bruised apples first. Damage spreads quickly in storage.

What ICMR-NIN's food tables list

From the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017, per 100 g edible portion:

Item	Energy	Carbohydrate	Total dietary fibre	Vitamin C
Apple, small, Kashmir	269 kJ (~64 kcal)	~14.0 g	~2.1 g	~4.2 mg
Apple, big	261 kJ (~62 kcal)	~13.1 g	~2.6 g	~3.6 mg

Apples aren't a big source of vitamin C. For that, guava or citrus offer far more. Their strengths are crunch, fibre and convenience. Eat the whole fruit with the peel where you can, rather than drinking apple juice.

Easy ways to eat apples

Sliced with a spoon of peanut butter as a snack.
Diced into curd or oats at breakfast.
Grated into a carrot salad.
Baked with cinnamon as a light dessert, without extra sugar.

Sources

General information, not medical advice.

Questions

Why are Shimla apples more expensive than Kashmir apples?

In Surat on 28 October 2026, Divya Bhaskar reported Kashmir apples at ₹100–120/kg and Shimla apples at ₹200–250/kg. Retail prices depend on variety, size, grade, transport and the shop, so the gap varies by city and week.

Is Kashmir's apple crop smaller this year?

A Sopore Fruit Mandi trader told Hindusthan Samachar on 28 October 2026 that hailstorms and substandard pesticides had cut production by around 40%. This is a trader estimate, not an official figure.

How do I pick a crisp apple?

Choose an apple that feels firm and heavy for its size, with tight, smooth skin. Avoid wrinkles, soft spots, bruises and brown patches near the stem.

How should apples be stored at home?

Keep them in the fridge, ideally in the crisper drawer, and away from soft fruit, because apples give off ethylene, which speeds ripening of nearby produce. Use bruised apples first.

How many calories are in an apple?

ICMR-NIN's IFCT 2017 lists a small Kashmir apple at about 269 kJ (around 64 kcal) per 100 g of edible portion, and a big apple at about 261 kJ (around 62 kcal). General information, not medical advice.