Himachal Pradesh, which is endowed with enormous natural beauty and resources has a total geographical area of 55,675 kms. It is rich in natural resources and has varied agro-climatic conditions suitable for the development of horticulture. The State has a vast potential of horticulture and has taken a leap forward to produce different varieties of fruits from tropical to temperate, which has made it the fruit bowl of the country. It has also helped in the economic upliftment of rural population and has also generated employment.
The total area under fruit in HP is about 2.07 Lac hectares with a production of about 5.00 Lac MTs of all kinds of fruits. Apple is the major fruit accounting for more than 40% of total area under fruits and about 88% of total fruit production.
The agro-climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh are extremely suitable for growing different varieties of Fruits. The state is successfully growing fruits such as apple, pear, peach plum, almond, walnut, citrus, mango, raisin grapes etc. There has been tremendous progress in fruit growing during the last three decades. Commercially, apple is the most important of all the fresh fruits grown. It has a rich collection of as many as 450 cultivars of apples collected from all over the World. The main varieties of commercial importance grown predominantly, however, are Royal Delicious, Rich-A-Red, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. Himachal Pradesh currently accounts for over 4 lac tones of apple production annually.It has been recognized as the Apple State of India for being adjudged as the best producer of Quality Apples. Here farmers are encouraged to grow the world's finest varieties of apple. The State Department of Horticulture helps them by making available the most modern orchard technology and expertise and the hpmc looks after the marketing and processing requirements of it.
HPMC
Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Ltd. popularly known as hpmc, was established in the year 1974 as State Public Undertaking with the objective of marketing of fresh fruits and processing of all types of surplus fruits. It has developed the most modern system of marketing in the country. The unique characteristics of this organization are that it provides all the services to the fruit growers, which are required for marketing of fruits. The Corporation has set up two modern Fruit Processing Plants and has acquired their on lease basis from the HIMPROCESS and has a vast range of processed products.
Between the years 1974-82, the Corporation engaged itself in the establishment of pre and post harvest activities, comprising 
of a net work of mechanically operated packing houses, cold storages, transshipment centers and fruit processing plants, besides a net-work of sales offices in the terminal markets Railways Stations and Airports through out the Country. The entire infrastructure of grading/packing houses, pre-cooling and cold storages has been established in rural areas for providing pre and post harvest facilities to the farmers at their door step. To day hpmc has emerged as one of the leading and largest organizations for the post-harvest handling of horticultural produce in India. Under the auspices of this organization in the past few years, the entire fruit industry has started experiencing a radical change from conventional to modern marketing system hpmc has contributed substantially to mechanized grading and scientific packing of fruits, substitution of conventional wooden cases by tray-packed telescopic cartons distribution network, introduction of juice dispensing machines, making thereby the health giving pure apple juice a common man's drink, manufacture of apple and pear juice concentrate and development of a sound base for the export of apple and other fruit products. It is a service-oriented organization with a commitment to ensure remunerative returns to the fruit growers and nutritive quality products at a reasonable price to the consumers.
of a net work of mechanically operated packing houses, cold storages, transshipment centers and fruit processing plants, besides a net-work of sales offices in the terminal markets Railways Stations and Airports through out the Country. The entire infrastructure of grading/packing houses, pre-cooling and cold storages has been established in rural areas for providing pre and post harvest facilities to the farmers at their door step. To day hpmc has emerged as one of the leading and largest organizations for the post-harvest handling of horticultural produce in India. Under the auspices of this organization in the past few years, the entire fruit industry has started experiencing a radical change from conventional to modern marketing system hpmc has contributed substantially to mechanized grading and scientific packing of fruits, substitution of conventional wooden cases by tray-packed telescopic cartons distribution network, introduction of juice dispensing machines, making thereby the health giving pure apple juice a common man's drink, manufacture of apple and pear juice concentrate and development of a sound base for the export of apple and other fruit products. It is a service-oriented organization with a commitment to ensure remunerative returns to the fruit growers and nutritive quality products at a reasonable price to the consumers. Market Intervention Scheme: (MIS)
The Government of Himachal Pradesh has introduced the policy of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for the procurement of Mango, Apple and Citrus Fruits in the State. In order to implement the Market Intervention Scheme of the State Government, the hpmc, being the premier fruit marketing agency, procures the unmarketable fruits which are processed under most hygienic conditions in its Processing Plants. The efforts made by the Corporation have resulted in stabilizing the prices of the fruits in the market. Apart from fruits procured under MIS, hpmc also procures other fruits like Peach, Pear, Plum, Litchi, Almonds, strawberry, kiwi etc. grown in the State, for marketing and processing to increase the capacity utilisation of the Plants and to assist the farmers of the State in getting remunerative returns for their produce. Procurement prices of the fruits under the Market Intervention Scheme for last five years are as under:
(Rate: Rs./Kg.)
Year | Mango | Apple | Kinnow/Orange | Galgal | ||
Seedless | Grafted | ‘B’ Grade | ‘C’ Grade | |||
| 2001-2002 | 3.08 | 3.75 | 3.75 | 4.35 | 3.75 | 2.60 |
| 2002-2003 | 3.33 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.60 | 4.00 | 2.85 |
| 2003-2004 | 3.33 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.60 | 4.00 | 2.85 |
| 2004-2005 | 3.58 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.85 | 4.25 | 3.10 |
| 2004-2005 | 3.58 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.85 | 4.25 | 3.10 |
| 2005-2006 | 3.58 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.85 | 4.25 | 3.15 |
| 2007-2008 | 4.08 | 4.75 | 4.75 | 5.35 | 4.75 | 3.65 |
| 2008-2009 | 4.58 | 5.25 | 5.25 | 5.85 | 5.25 | 4.15 |
| 2009-2010 | 4.50 | 5.25 | 5.25 | 5.85 | 5.25 | 4.15 |
Export of Fruit and Fruit Products
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Among all fruits, Apple being the main crop of the State occupies place of pride in its economy. The major commercial varieties grown in the State are; Royal Delicious, Red Delicious, Rich-A-Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. At present, Himachal Pradesh produces over 4.00 lakh tonnes of Apples annually which is cultivated at the altitude ranging between 6,000 to 10,000 ft. above sea level and is free from pollution. The quality of Himachal Apple meets the entire export standards. In the past hpmc has exported quality apples to Iran, UAE, Sri Lanka, Singapore and U.K. Fresh apples are available from August to November on firm demand.
Standard Packings for Export
Size of Apple | No of Apple Pocket in a Tray | No of trays in a Carton | No of Apples in a Carton |
| Extra Large (80 to 85 mm) | 20 | 4 | 80 |
| Large (75 to 80mm) | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Medium (70 to 75mm) | 25 | 5 | 125 |
| Small (65 to 70mm) | 30 | 5 | 150 |
| Extra Small (60 to 65mm) | 35 | 5 | 175 |
Grade Standards
Only two Quality Grade Apples i.e. ‘EXTRA FANCY’ and ‘FANCY CLASS 1’ are offered for export. The broad parameters of the Quality are that the fruit must be sound, clean, fully developed, coloured, juicy and full of flavour and freshness.
Tray Packed Cartons
Tray Pack Cartons have specially been developed for export of Himachal Apples. It consists of an inner fibre board carton, a series of moulded trays and an outer telescopic lid which fits right down over the sides and end of the inner carton. Apples in Tray Pack cartons are wrapped as per requirement of the buyer. The net weight of apples in the carton is not less than 38 lbs (17 kg.) but in practice it is usually over 40 lbs (18 kg) depending on the variety. The inner dimensions of the carton are 500x300x278 (ht) mm and inside dimensions of the outer cover are 504x303x281.mm
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