Exports:

• Saffron (HS 091020): India exported ≈ US$0.63m in 2023 (small but premium, mostly niche/ethnic markets).
  
• Cashew kernels, shelled (HS 080132): India exported ≈ US$333m in 2023; India is among the top global suppliers of kernels.
  
• Raisins (HS 080620): India exported ≈ US$54.1m (≈42,014 t) in 2023. Major origins are Maharashtra clusters.
  
• Walnuts (context): India is largely a net importer; domestic production in J&K was ~33,000 t in MY 2023/24 (in-shell). Use mainly for regional/value-story packs rather than bulk export.
  

Kashmir Saffron (GI-tagged)

• GI protection & traceability: “Kashmir Saffron” (registered 2020) has formal GI protection. The Pampore Integrated Saffron & Spices Park (IIKSTC) runs a cleaning–grading–GI-tagging and e-auction facility to curb adulteration and standardize quality. This is a strong authenticity lever for export packaging
  
• Quality definition: Graded by ISO 3632 (spectrophotometric thresholds for crocin colour strength, picrocrocin bitterness, safranal aroma). BIS mirrors this via IS 5453; Indian labs follow FSSAI’s spice manual for analysis. Aim for ISO 3632 Category I (threads) for premium SKUs
  
• Local forms & cut styles: BIS recognizes traditional Indian styles (Mongra / Lachcha)—use these terms on packs for regional storytelling.

Indian Dry Fruits for Value-Added Packs

• Raisins: Sourced heavily from Maharashtra (Sangli, Nashik, Solapur)—dense clusters with drying infrastructure; ideal for consistent nitrogen-flushed retail packs and festival gift boxes.
  
• Cashew kernels: Robust Indian processing base; standard W-grades (W180/210/240/320/450) widely recognized in EU/US retail. Use W240/W320 for mainstream premium mixes.
  
• Walnuts (Kashmir): Strong origin story (temperate Himalayan terroir) useful for regional/heritage blends—even if volumes are smaller.
  

Quality & Compliance

Standards & testing

• Saffron: ISO 3632 (Category & purity) + BIS IS 5453 + FSSAI analytical methods. Build CoAs that show crocin/picrocrocin/safranal values for each batch.
  
• Raisins: Meet CODEX STAN 200-1995 (Raisins) specs; watch SO₂ residues if sulphited.
  
• Nuts & raisins – mycotoxins:
  
  • EU: Comply with Reg. (EU) 2023/915 max levels for aflatoxins in nuts/dried fruits (stricter than many markets).
    
  • US: FDA action level for total aflatoxins is 20 ppb (tree nuts/foods)
    

Labelling & allergens

• EU (Reg. 1169/2011): Must emphasize allergens in ingredients; tree nuts (almond, cashew, walnut), sesame, and sulphur dioxide/sulphites > 10 mg/kg are explicitly listed (key for nut mixes and sulphited raisins).
  
• US: Under the FASTER Act, sesame became the 9th major allergen from Jan 1, 2023; tree nuts must be named specifically (e.g., “Contains: Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts”).
  
• India (for domestic/e-comm): Follow FSS (Labelling & Display) and E-commerce food labelling rules for ingredient list, veg/non-veg logo, FSSAI license, etc.
  
• Packaging materials (India): Use food-grade packaging per FSS (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
  

Certificates & export readiness

• APEDA RCMC for scheduled products; EIC/EIA export certifications where required by buyers.
  

Value-Added Pack Formats that Win

For Saffron

• Unit-dose vials (0.5 g / 1 g) with GI QR tags, tamper-evident caps, and batch-level ISO 3632 data on pack/QR.
  
• Saffron milk mix / tea infusions in stand-up pouches; highlight “Kashmir GI” + ISO grade.
  

For Dry-Fruit Mixes

• Nitrogen-flushed stand-up pouches or PET jars (improves rancidity control & shelf life in nuts).
  
• Festival gift boxes pairing GI Kashmir Saffron + Kashmiri walnut kernels + Maharashtra raisins (clear origin story per component).
  
• Cashew grade signalling on front (e.g., “Cashew W320”) to align with EU/US buyer expectations.
  

India-specific strengths you can pitch

1. Authenticity & anti-adulteration for saffron via GI e-auction & tagging at Pampore (traceability selling point).
   
2. Processing capacity for cashew and raisins with established grades/specs and large domestic demand that stabilizes throughput.
   
3. Heritage storytelling (Himalayan terroir: Pampore saffron; J&K walnuts) for premium gift/SKU lines.
   

HS codes

• Saffron: 0910.20.
  
• Cashew kernels, shelled: 0801.32.
  
• Raisins: 0806.20.
  
• Nut/fruit mixes:
  
  • Raw, unsalted mixtures often under 0813 (classify by content).
    
  • Roasted/salted/coated mixes typically Chapter 20 (2008); US CBP rulings treat typical “trail mixes” as 2008 (prepared/preserved). Validate per recipe.
    

Buyer checklist

• Specs to request (saffron): ISO 3632 category (with crocin/picrocrocin/safranal), moisture, foreign matter; GI-tag evidence (QR).
  
• Specs to request (nuts/raisins): Grade (e.g., W320), count/lb (cashew), peroxide/FFA (nuts), SO₂ (raisins), aflatoxin certificate to EU/US limits, metal detection logs.
  
• Packs: Nitrogen-flushed pouches/jars; add desiccant/oxygen absorber where appropriate; validate shelf life in stability studies.
  
• Labels: EU 1169 allergen emphasis; US FASTER Act compliance; India FSSAI pack & e-comm rules for domestic.
  
• Credentials: APEDA RCMC; EIC/EIA support if buyer wants government-backed health/quality certificates.
  

Risk notes & how we mitigate

• Adulteration (saffron): stick to GI-tagged Kashmir lots; test per ISO 3632; avoid powdered saffron unless source-controlled.
  
• Aflatoxin (nuts/raisins): supplier HACCP + validated sampling; release only on EU 2023/915/FDA 20 ppb compliant reports.
  
• Allergen & sulphite claims: enforce EU 1169 formatting; audit flavour premixes for hidden sesame; declare SO₂ where used.
  

Quick sourcing map

• Saffron: Pampore (J&K) + IIKSTC for grading/GI tagging.
  
• Raisins: Maharashtra—Sangli, Nashik, Solapur clusters.
  
• Cashews: South/West India processing corridors; use W-grade standards for export alignment.
  

Walnuts: J&K orchards—great for heritage value packs; limited export scale.