HPMC Celebrates 50 Years of Boosting Himachal's Apple Economy..
Shimla - Celebrating its 50th anniversary today, the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) has been hailed for its critical role in strengthening the state's apple economy.
Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi praised HPMC's significant contributions since its founding on June 10, 1974.
Over the past five decades, HPMC has made a name for itself by supporting apple growers and the horticulture sector through various initiatives.
Minister Negi noted that the corporation has consistently worked to boost the production, marketing, and processing of apples in the region, making a big difference for local growers.
One of HPMC's standout achievements is setting up India's first apple juice concentrate plant in Parwanoo back in 1980.
This was followed by the establishment of cold storages in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as several locations within Himachal Pradesh during the 1970s and 1980s.
The corporation also led the way in producing and marketing bottled juice in India, a pioneering effort at the time.
HPMC has been a lifeline for around 30,000 apple growers annually, buying their C-grade apples through the Market Intervention Scheme.
These apples are processed into various products, including apple juice concentrate, tetra pack juice, jams, squashes, apple cider vinegar, and pickles, at HPMC's plants in Parwanoo, Parala (Shimla), and Jarol (Sundernagar).
Moreover, HPMC provides world-class post-harvest technology to apple growers, including 10 grading packing houses and five controlled atmosphere (CA) stores, all at reasonable rates.
Looking ahead, Minister Negi emphasized the need for HPMC to continue offering fair prices for C-grade apples and urged the corporation to keep innovating in post-harvest technology and processing to better serve the growers.
With Managing Director Sudesh Mokhta and other key officials present, the focus is on building a brighter future for Himachal’s apple industry, ensuring that HPMC remains a strong pillar for fruit growers in the state.
