Apple Tea from Himachal

The Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) is launching Apple Tea by the end of this month with an investment of Rs 3.75 crore. Also, the corporation is in the process of bringing wine in tetra packs.

The tea concentrate has been developed by the Central Agriculture Institute, Palampur. It has been processed with apple concentrate from the HPMC. Speaking to Business Standard in Chandigarh, HPMC Managing Director C R B Lalit said, "Apple Tea is without sugar and preservatives and will come in 200 ml tetra packs."

"We have tried to get apples from Shimla and premium tea from Kangra to produce this. We are also doing research on Apple Coffee and will try to contact educational institutes, and agriculture universities in South India to collaborate with us," said Lalit.

After achieving a good market in wine from apple, plum, peer and other fruits HPMC would market wine in tetrapacks. The wine would be available only in 200 ml packing for Rs 50.

"We will be getting the license in one week and in next three months will launch the wine in tetrapacks, "stated Lalit.

In the field of fruit processing, the Corporation has its most modern Processing Plant at Parwanu (Solan) which is fully equipped with the latest technology of apple juice concentration and aroma recovery, the first of its kind in India and another Plant at Jarol (Mandi) with total installed capacity of 21,000 MT. The Parwanu unit has been certified with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification by RWTUV, Germany.

With annual turnover of Rs 40 crore in 2004-05, the corporation is lookinga t a 30-35 percent growth this year with the new initiatives taken .

"We are tapping institutions for bulk sales of hpmc juices and other products like the Indian railways, Indian Airlines, petrol pumps and currently have 300 retail outlets in India. Tihs year we will be adding another 50 retail outlets in UP, Madhya pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala,"stated Lalit.