AP PHOTOS: From a flower in Kashmir comes a precious spice

[Judi Lynn]

By DAR YASIN
November 14, 2020

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Cradled by low mountains and spread across a vast expanse of small, fertile fields, a sea of purple flowers opens in Himalayan Kashmir to produce one of the world’s most precious spices, saffron.

At the end of autumn, families in the Muslim-majority region race against the clock to harvest the saffron crocus flowers, which bloom for only two weeks a year. Men, women and children stoop as they laboriously pick the delicate flowers and place them in wicker baskets.

They next separate the purple petals by hand, and from each flower comes three tiny, delicate stigmas which are then dried in the sun, becoming one the most expensive and sought-after spices.



A Kashmiri farmer plucks crocus flowers, the stigma of which produces saffron, on a farm in Khrew, south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Across the world, saffron is used in products ranging from food to medicine and cosmetics. A kilogram (2.2 pounds) requires the stigmas of about 150,000 flowers and can easily sell for $3,000-$4,000.

More:
https://apnews.com/article/kashmir-india-asia-pacific-b01c2c4f1ae10a0f2ffab3374a76be42

[rustysgurl]

1. I've always wondered how much the farmers are paid for this, considering how expensive it is? n/t

[mopinko]

2. i tried growing saffron crocus a couple of years ago.

timing was off, and they didnt do well.
but will try again this spring. gonna make a few raised beds to make it a little less 'stoopy'.

spices are a big thing w small farmers. i grow a lot of herbs, and use the seeds.
always looking for more. expanding my indoor growing, and looking for things to grow there.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Good luck this time.Plants are so beautiful, and fascinating.Raised beds gardening could be great.🌿

[mopinko]

4. mostly i do in ground, tho

when i started this thing, i had no soil to speak of. i still do a lot of containers.
i got some rly groovy big slabs of greystone from an old bldg that i am going to make the beds w.