Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormFrozen
Industry PositionProcessed Horticultural Product
Market
Frozen grape in India is best understood as a cold-chain processed extension of India’s large table-grape production base. APEDA reports that major grape-growing states include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Mizoram, with Maharashtra and Karnataka accounting for the majority of national production in 2023–24. India’s compliance context for frozen fruit is anchored by FSSAI’s Frozen Fruits/Fruit Products standard, including a -18°C thermal-center criterion and microbiological requirements. Public, product-specific visibility for frozen-grape trade volumes is limited compared with fresh grape reporting, so market characterization is treated as emerging/niche and highly cold-chain dependent.
Market RoleDomestic grape producer; frozen-grape segment is emerging/niche and cold-chain dependent
Specification
Primary VarietyThompson Seedless
Secondary Variety- 2A-Clone
- Tas-e-Ganesh
- Sharad Seedless
Physical Attributes- Prepared from fresh, clean, sound, whole fruits of suitable maturity, free from insect or fungal infection (per FSSAI Frozen Fruits/Fruit Products standard).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Vineyard harvest/sourcing in major producing states → sorting/cleaning → washing → optional blanching (if required) → IQF or block freezing → frozen storage → refrigerated distribution and/or export logistics
Temperature- FSSAI Frozen Fruits/Fruit Products standard: freezing is not regarded as complete until the product temperature reaches −18°C at the thermal center after thermal stabilization.
- FSSAI FoSTaC storage & transport guidance: freezers should be maintained at or below −18°C; thawed frozen food should not be refrozen unless subsequently cooked.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Food Safety HighCold-chain failures (temperature excursions above −18°C, thawing and re-freezing) can create non-compliance with India’s frozen-fruit handling expectations and materially increase quality and safety risk for frozen grapes in storage, distribution, or import clearance.Use validated freezing to −18°C core temperature, continuous temperature logging through storage/transport, backup power for freezers, and strict ‘no refreeze after thaw’ handling controls.
Regulatory Compliance MediumImported frozen grapes are subject to FSSAI import clearance via FICS integrated with Customs ICEGATE, including document scrutiny, inspection, and risk-based sampling/testing; non-conformities can trigger holds, delay, or rejection.Pre-validate label and standard conformity against FSSAI requirements; ensure complete documentation and arrange for contingency time/cost for sampling and lab testing at the port of entry.
Pesticide Residues MediumAPEDA describes extensive residue monitoring and traceability for Indian grapes in export supply chains, signaling that residue compliance is a material acceptance risk for grape-based products (including frozen grapes) when supplying standards-sensitive buyers.Apply supplier-level residue monitoring, enforce pre-harvest interval discipline, and retain lot-wise traceability and test records aligned to buyer and destination-market MRL expectations.
FAQ
What core temperature criterion is used in India’s standard for frozen fruits like frozen grapes?FSSAI’s Frozen Fruits/Fruit Products standard states freezing is not regarded as complete until the product temperature reaches −18°C at the thermal center after thermal stabilization.
Which Indian regions form the main production base for grape supply that could feed frozen-grape processing?APEDA lists major grape-growing states as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Mizoram, with Maharashtra and Karnataka holding the largest production shares in 2023–24.
How are imported frozen fruit products cleared into India?FSSAI clears food imports through the Food Import Clearance System (FICS), integrated with Customs ICEGATE under SWIFT, using document scrutiny, visual inspection, and selective sampling/testing based on risk profiling.