APMC VASHI DATES MARKET — COMPLETE BUYER FAQ (2025)

APMC dates market FAQ for retailers, wholesalers, e-commerce brands and HoReCa buyers sourcing Medjool, Ajwa, Sukkari, Mazafati/Kimia, Zahidi, Deglet Noor, Safawi, Mabroom and more in Navi Mumbai.

Last updated: Sep 19, 2025 (IST)

1. WHAT IS APMC VASHI AND WHY DOES IT MATTER FOR DATES?
   APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Vashi is a regulated wholesale hub in Navi Mumbai. It concentrates many dates importers/traders in one yard, so buyers can compare grades and prices on the same day and close faster.
   
   

2. WHERE IS THE APMC DATES/DRY-FRUIT SECTION?
   Sector 19, Vashi, Navi Mumbai (dates/dry-fruit/masala complex). Ask your supplier for a share location near the dates corridor when you visit.
   
   

3. WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL MARKET HOURS?
   Common trading window: Monday to Saturday, roughly 10:00 AM–8:00 PM. Many shops are closed on Sundays and major public holidays. Always reconfirm with your supplier before you travel.
   
   

4. WHICH DATE VARIETIES ARE USUALLY AVAILABLE?
   Premium soft: Medjool, Ajwa, Sukkari
   Moist/soft: Mazafati (Kimia)
   Semi-dry/value: Zahidi (Pind), Deglet Noor, Fard
   Others: Safawi, Mabroom, Khudri, and seasonal specialties
   Availability varies by season and arrivals.
   
   

5. HOW DO I CHECK TODAY’S RATE?
   Contact your supplier (or the Dates.Business desk) and request a written proforma that includes: variety, grade/size, moisture/softness, pack/carton, MOQ, your delivery lane (city/pincode), payment terms, and lot photos. Prices move with arrivals, grade and lane—close only against a written quote.
   
   

6. WHAT INFO SHOULD I SEND TO GET A FAST QUOTE?
   Copy-paste this template into WhatsApp:
   
   

• Variety: (e.g., Zahidi / Mazafati / Medjool)
  
  

• Grade/size & pack: (e.g., AA, 500 g × 12 / 10 kg / 30 kg)
  
  

• Qty/MOQ: (e.g., 10 cartons / 300 kg / 1 pallet)
  
  

• Delivery lane: City + pincode, reefer or ambient
  
  

• Notes: Need lot photos, labels, and (for soft) temperature logs
  
  

7. WHAT DRIVES THE WHOLESALE PRICE MOST?
   
   

• Grade & size uniformity (jumbo/large vs mixed)
  
  

• Moisture/softness profile and visual defects
  
  

• Packaging (vacuum/MAP, pouch vs rigid gift box)
  
  

• Lane/logistics (reefer cost, transit time)
  
  

• Seasonality (festival peaks, import waves)
  
  

• FX and freight environment (affects landed cost)
  
  

8. HOW DO I INSPECT QUALITY ON SITE?
   Taste 5–10 pieces from different layers, not just the top.
   Look for clean peel, natural gloss, no leakage/syruping, pleasant aroma.
   For semi-dry (Zahidi/Deglet Noor): intact skin, firm-chewy bite, low surface sugar.
   Photograph samples alongside the outer carton label (batch/lot/pack date).
   
   

9. DO SOFT DATES NEED REFRIGERATION?
   Recommended. Mazafati/Kimia, Sukkari and Medjool hold texture and sheen best at 0–5 °C end-to-end. Temper cartons before opening to prevent condensation.
   
   

10. WHICH VARIETIES TRAVEL SAFELY AT AMBIENT?
    Semi-dry types like Zahidi and Deglet Noor generally move well on cool/dry ambient lanes. Keep cartons off the floor, avoid compression, and rotate FEFO.
    
    

11. WHAT PACK SIZES WORK BEST FOR RETAIL?
    Everyday retail: 250–500 g pouches
    Pantry/e-commerce: 1 kg zipper pouches or window boxes
    Festive gift: 400–800 g rigid boxes with sleeves
    Wholesale/B2B: 5–7–10 kg cartons (varies by origin/packer)
    
    

12. WHAT ABOUT FSSAI AND LABELING?
    Ensure label shows product name (e.g., “Dates—Zahidi”), vegetarian logo, net quantity, nutrition panel, lot/batch, packed-on and best-before, storage instructions (e.g., “Keep Refrigerated 0–5 °C” for soft dates), MRP (if retail pack), importer/manufacturer details with FSSAI license and customer care.
    
    

13. HOW DO I COMPARE SUPPLIERS FAIRLY?
    Ask everyone to quote in ₹/kg on the same spec (grade, pack, MOQ, lane, payment terms). Avoid comparing a 30 kg bag against a 5 kg carton without normalizing. Request the same set of lot photos and (for soft) temperature logs.
    
    

14. WHAT IS A GOOD STARTING MOQ?
    Trial orders often start around ~10 cartons/boxes, depending on SKU and lane. Larger, regular pickups attract sharper pricing.
    
    

15. HOW SHOULD I STRUCTURE PAYMENT AND TERMS?
    Safer pattern for larger orders: booking advance → QC pass (photos/tests) → dispatch balance. Always take a stamped invoice and gate pass. Put replacement terms for off-spec or temperature abuse in writing.
    
    

16. HOW DO I REDUCE RETURNS AND SHRINK?
    
    

• Match variety to lane (soft dates on reefer, semi-dry on cool ambient)
  
  

• Use pallets and corner/strap protection
  
  

• Keep storage cool/dry and rotate FEFO
  
  

• On retail PDPs and packs, state handling (“Keep Refrigerated”) to set buyer expectations
  
  

17. WHEN ARE PRICES USUALLY LOWER?
    Often after major festivals and when fresh import waves land. Keep an eye on inventory cycles and freight chatter; use early reservations for peaks and reload value SKUs post-peak.
    
    

18. WHAT IS THE FESTIVAL STRATEGY FOR DATES?
    Pre-book for Ramadan/Diwali and corporate hampers. Build gift-ready packs ahead of time to avoid last-minute packaging premiums. Secure reefer capacity for soft lines.
    
    

19. CAN I DO PRIVATE LABEL OR CO-PACKING?
    Yes, subject to MOQs. Options include vacuum/MAP pouches, printed sleeves, rigid gift boxes, and storytelling inserts (origin, grade, storage). Share dielines and compliance copy before print.
    
    

20. DO YOU SHIP PAN-INDIA?
    Yes. Semi-dry SKUs typically ship ambient; soft/moist SKUs prefer reefer. Provide pincode, floor access notes, and receiving window for an accurate delivered quote.
    
    

21. HOW FAST CAN YOU DISPATCH?
    For stocked lots in Navi Mumbai warehouses/cold rooms: same/next-day dispatch after payment and paperwork. Transit time varies by lane and reefer availability.
    
    

22. WHAT DOCUMENTS PROVE AUTHENTICITY?
    Stamped invoice with origin, batch/lot labels on outer cartons, photos of actual stock, and (on request) COA/phyto. For soft dates, temperature logger curves add trust.
    
    

23. WHAT ARE COMMON BUYER MISTAKES?
    
    

• Buying on variety name alone (no grade/size/defect spec)
  
  

• Skipping cold chain for soft dates
  
  

• Comparing quotes without normalizing pack/terms
  
  

• Paying 100% upfront without replacement terms
  
  

• Underestimating packaging’s impact on realized retail price
  
  

24. CAN I VISIT THE MARKET IN PERSON?
    Yes. Plan a weekday visit within typical trading hours. Coordinate with your supplier for a guided walk of shortlisted stalls, taste checks, and on-the-spot negotiation.
    
    

25. WHAT KEYWORDS SHOULD MY TEAM WATCH WHEN RESEARCHING?
    “APMC Vashi dates market,” “Zahidi dates price today APMC,” “Medjool wholesale Mumbai,” “Mazafati Kimia cold chain,” “Sukkari soft dates price,” “Deglet Noor bulk India.”
    
    

26. HOW SHOULD I PRICE FOR RETAIL?
    Offer both discovery (250–500 g) and pantry (1 kg) SKUs. Position semi-dry as value staples and soft dates as premium. Bundle with nuts to lift average bill value.
    
    

27. WHAT’S A SIMPLE LANDED-COST CHECKLIST?
    FOB/CIF base → ocean/air + insurance → duty/GST → port/CHA → inland freight (reefer/ambient) → storage/handling → packaging/label → wastage/shrink → channel fees → target margin.
    
    

28. HOW DO I KEEP MY PDP/STORE PAGES CONVERTING?
    Above the fold: variety, grade, pack size, origin, storage instructions, and clear photos (outer pack + macro of flesh). List use-cases (snacking, smoothies, desserts). Add FAQs on storage and serving.
    
    

29. CAN YOU HELP WITH DAILY PRICE UPDATES?
    Yes—join the WhatsApp broadcast list for rate snapshots, lot photos, and availability notes. Mention your company name, city, SKUs, and target MOQs.
    
    

30. QUICK WHATSAPP CTA (COPY-PASTE)
    Hello Dates.Business, please share today’s rates and availability for:
    • Variety: (Zahidi / Mazafati / Medjool / Ajwa / Sukkari / Deglet Noor)
    • Grade & Pack: (e.g., A/AA/AAA; 500 g × 12 / 1 kg × 6 / 10–30 kg)
    • Qty: (e.g., 10 cartons / 300 kg / 1 pallet)
    • Delivery lane: City + pincode (reefer or ambient)
    • Also share: lot photos, labels, and temperature logs (for soft dates)
    
    

FAST CONTACT
Call/WhatsApp: +91 88796 66906
Email: hurzuk.abid@gmail.com
Market: APMC Market, Sector 19, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400703