![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.hortidaily.com\/remote\/https\/agfstorage.blob.core.windows.net\/misc\/FP_com\/2026\/07\/23\/Cirola1.jpg?preset=ContentFullSmall\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nProtected cultivation expands<\/strong> “Berries are highly sensitive to temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which is why protected cultivation matters particularly in India, given its climatic diversity and extreme weather fluctuations,” he says. Longer windows, fresher supply<\/strong> Raspberries offer another interesting development, with Konnect Agro harvesting the crop year-round. The ability to extend the domestic production calendar could become increasingly relevant as Indian consumers gain better access to berries throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Compared with imported fruit, locally grown berries benefit from a shorter supply chain, allowing them to reach consumers quickly and efficiently. India also offers relatively low production costs; however, the industry remains in its early stages. Growers are still working to identify optimal locations and genetics suited to diverse climatic zones,” Saurabh notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He adds that not all regions are conducive to berry cultivation. India’s varied climate makes commercial production challenging without rigorous R&D and trial plots. “Also, the currently identified regions for growing berries pose a challenge in terms of land acquisition and consolidation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access to proprietary genetics and skilled manpower resources remains a significant challenge, alongside limited expertise in implementing advanced agronomy practices. High capital requirements for protected cultivation and substrate farming further constrain growth. While India’s cold-chain infrastructure via road transport has improved considerably, Saurabh shares that last-mile logistics still requires greater attention to ensure efficient handling of highly perishable fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Building a berry brand<\/strong> Saurabh believes the next phase of growth will be supported by the expansion of quick commerce and modern retail beyond India’s largest cities, as well as rising health awareness and demand for berries as premium, health-focused foods. “Further, as output increases in the coming years through multiple growers, prices will get rationalised, thereby making the berries more accessible to a larger consumer segment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “For local production to scale, India needs better access to advanced genetics through breeder partnerships, specialized nurseries and stronger domestic R&D to identify the most suitable varieties for different growing regions. Equally important are investments in workforce development, post-harvest systems and cold-chain infrastructure to preserve fruit quality from farm to consumer. At the same time, building trusted brands and increasing consumer awareness will be essential to drive demand and establish Indian-grown berries,” he concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information: Berry shelves in India evolve with year-round production and premium branding India’s berry market is undergoing rapid transformation. Local growers are expanding protected cultivation, introducing advanced genetics, and extending production windows. On the consumer side, premium retail, quick commerce, and strong branding are helping berries shed their earlier image of costly exotics and establishing them […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":266085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-267670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-categorise"],"acf":[],"featured_image_url":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-150x150.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-300x60.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-768x154.jpg","large":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-1024x205.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-1536x307.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/befve.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/articles-Christian-Befve-2048x410.jpg"},"post_author":"Christian","assigned_categories":"Non cat\u00e9goris\u00e9","yoast_head":"\n
Protected cultivation has become central to the expansion of India’s commercial berry production. While open-field cultivation exists at higher altitudes for mid- and high-chill varieties, Saurabh says most commercial low-chill berry production is now taking place in polyhouses, tunnels and net houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company grows blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, with Blueberries being the core portfolio that includes varieties such as Sekoya Pop from Fall Creek and Demba & Dana from Fruit Vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.hortidaily.com\/remote\/https\/agfstorage.blob.core.windows.net\/misc\/FP_com\/2026\/07\/23\/Cirola7.jpg?preset=ContentFullSmall\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The different genetics allow Konnect Agro to target a longer production cycle. “Sekoya Pop offers us a market-leading variety known for its high quality and yield while Fruit Vision offers early, high-yielding genetics, which gives us an extended harvest window,” Saurabh explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.hortidaily.com\/remote\/https\/agfstorage.blob.core.windows.net\/misc\/FP_com\/2026\/07\/23\/Cirola2.jpg?preset=ContentFullSmall\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As production grows, branding is also becoming a more important part of the market. Konnect Agro markets its berries under the CIROLA brand, focusing on freshness, uniformity and consistency. The company says its production strategy supports an extended harvest window from December to July for blueberries, while raspberries and strawberries are harvested year-round, giving the brand a consistent presence on retail shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.hortidaily.com\/remote\/https\/agfstorage.blob.core.windows.net\/misc\/FP_com\/2026\/07\/23\/Cirola.jpg?preset=ContentFullSmall\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Saurabh Vinayak
Konnect Agro Pvt. Ltd.
<\/strong>Tel: +91 99 90 499 903
Tel: +91 97 18 239 335
Email: info@konnectagro.com<\/a>
www.konnectagro.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"