Srinagar, June 13 -- The weather may have kept the Valley's cherry growers at an edge this season, but the returns have given them a reason to smile.

The Valley's first cash crop, cherry, is witnessing a good season despite weather vagaries, especially wind and hailstorms, which have become a regular feature this year.

So far, thousands of boxes of cherries of different varieties have been exported across the country, and growers are fetching good prices, especially for newly introduced varieties like Washington, Makhmali, and Italy.

Cherries are a highly perishable fruit, and the introduction of railway cargo has not only helped save time and freight costs but also ensured timely arrivals in mandis thereby fetching good rates.

Presid...