Srinagar, July 28 -- Following months of slumber, Sopore fruit mandi is once again abuzz with the sound of vehicles bringing in the season's first apple crop for sale. The back to back rainfall in July has given growers a good hope for not only bumper fruit crops but also best quality apples. As per data of meteorological department, Kashmir has received normal to excess rainfall especially in the belts producing quality apples. The July month is considered a very important time for fruit development, the rainfall has not only given magnificent colour to different early varieties of apples but has also ripened the harvest. "When there was a heatwave in June we were staring at a very messy situation. But we were hopeful after the first rainfall. Across Kashmir apple orchards have good fruit even the high density apples have good yield this season," said Sahib Ahmad Khan who owns several orchards in north Kashmir. Sopore fruit mandi president Fayaz Ahmad Malik said that 40 to 50 apple trucks are being loaded from the mandi every day. "Even dozens of trucks are also being dispatched from other mandies of the Valley. So far the market is good and it's because the fruit quality is good due to timely rainfall," he said. Kashmir is India's largest apple-producing region, fetching revenue of over Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000 crore, and contributing around 8-10% of its gross domestic product....