ASDA (Walmart UK) stores is collaborating with Bharti Walmart Direct Farm Program to source international quality grapes from Maharashtra.
ASDA stores imported over 80 containers of table grapes during 2011 and the export figure is expected to almost double to over 150 containers in 2012.
Under Bharti Walmart's Direct Farm initiative, the company helps train farmers, supply chain partners and others involved in export of Indian grapes to ensure global GAP Certification of each farm under the direct export program.
The program also includes management of post-harvest supply chain including harvesting, pre-cooling, packaging and shipments and traceability and food safety of each lot with capability to track each farm.
Bharti Walmart said it would replicate this model to source other farm produce from India. The programme covers over 4,000 farmers across Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.