Srinagar, Oct. 19 -- : Believe it or not, hailstorm-hit apples are selling like hot cakes in Kashmir

Buyers are making beelines to affected areas, particularly in north Kashmir, to buy damaged apples at low prices. These apples are being processed into different products and sold at a premium.

For growers, selling hail-damaged apples offers a way to recover part of their investment rather than leave the fruit unsold.

An apple crate of small bruises currently sells between Rs 80 and 120.

"This year the damage to the apple crop was massive. To some extent, farmers are selling these bruised apples "Giraan" to recover some money used for the maintenance of the crop in the form of fertilisers or pesticide sprays," said Ghulam Mohammad Dar,...