Fruit, edible; apples, fresh

HS code 080810 covers the import and export of fresh apples, a globally traded fruit with significant economic importance. Apples are one of the most widely cultivated and consumed fruits worldwide, playing a crucial role in the global food supply chain. As a versatile and nutritious produce, fresh apples are in high demand across various industries, from food processing to retail distribution.

The production of fresh apples involves several key steps. Orchards are carefully managed, with growers selecting suitable apple cultivars, implementing proper pruning and training techniques, and ensuring optimal soil conditions and irrigation. Harvesting is typically done by hand or with specialized machinery, with apples carefully picked at the right maturity stage. Post-harvest handling includes sorting, grading, and storage in controlled environments to maintain freshness and quality.

The main inputs required for the fresh apple industry include land for orchards, apple tree cultivars, agricultural equipment and machinery, fertilizers, and labor for cultivation and harvesting. Additionally, storage and transportation infrastructure, such as cold storage facilities and refrigerated trucks, are essential to ensure the safe delivery of fresh apples to domestic and international markets.

The primary output of HS code 080810 is fresh apples, which are consumed directly as a fruit or used as an ingredient in various food products, such as 200799 Fruit, edible; jams, marmalades, fruit jellies, fruit or nut puree and fruit or nut pastes, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, 200980 (Fruit juices (including grape must) and vegetable juices, unfermented and not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter), and 081190 Fruit and nuts, uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter. Fresh apples are also used in the production of 220710 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher; ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength, 220820 Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc, and other alcoholic beverages.