JAMMU, JANUARY 31, Jan. 31 -- Horticulture is not merely an agricultural activity in J&K it is the backbone of the rural economy here. Among its many produce, apple occupies a central place, supporting lakhs of farming families and anchoring allied livelihoods across the length and breadth of thevalley and some districts of Jammu region. Yet, despite producing apples renowned for their quality, the economic structure surrounding the crop remained constrained for decades. Traditionally, the apple economy of Jammu & Kashmir operated within a narrow and unforgiving window. Harvest season brought urgency rather than opportunity. With limited access to scientific grading, storage or organised marketing, fruit flooded the market in a short span...