Reliance packs in apples of Himachal

Reliance Industries claims India has become the first country in the world to market apples in a particular variety of plastic packaging cartons.

"This is the first time plastic bubble-guard cartons have been introduced in the world. This year we have just finished marketing around 30,000 empty cartons (or boxes) produced at the Baddi plant, in collaboration with Wimplast," said the vice-president (business development), Reliance Industries, Sagar Verma, here.

The foundation stone of the plant was laid in January in Baddi by the state Horticulture Minister, Singhi Ram.

"Even though these high-tech water-proof 20-kg capacity cartons cost almost double"" at Rs 70"" as compared with traditional paper cartons, they add value to the fruit. Farmers who packed their fruit in these cartons fetched at least Rs 110 more in metropolitan centres," Verma told Business Standard today

"Compared with traditional paper packaging, these plastic bubble guard cartons are far more attractive, water proof, hygienic and result in minimal fruit loss," he claimed.

Earlier this year, Wimplast had set up a Rs 50-crore packaging material plant in the industrial town of Baddi, some 120 km from here.

Set up with Italian help, the unit is said to be the third of its kind in the world and first in Asia, say company officials. Besides packaging horticulture produce such as apples, plums,cherries, walnuts, oranges and pomergrantes, the plant plans to produce packaging material for other white goods.

"Even though we could not market apple cartons in a big way due to certain reasons, by the next harvest, we plan to manufacture at least 2,500,000 such cartons to farmers, which will be around 10 per cent of the total apple produce of the state," said Madusudan Jangid, chief financial officer, Wimplast.

Besides Himachal, Reliance sold these Wimplast cartons in the neigbouring state of Kashmir, the other major producer of apples in the country.

"In Kashmir, apple farmers fetched Rs 600 for 20 kg-cartons, as compared with the traditional packing which fetched Rs 150 less," claimed Verma.

He said the presentation of apples in an attractive and hygienic manner will help farmers find a place in the fast emerging competitive "Mall culture" in big cities across the country.

"Reliance is also tying up with Milliken Chemicals, USA, to bring the latest propylene(or plastic) bottles for packaging of fruit juice in the state."

ITC, another blue chip company, for the first time made its foray into the booming apple industry of the hill state, purchasing around 80,000 cartons, and selling them at retail outlets in metropolitan centres.

Reliance also plans to enter the retail market by buying apples from farmers directly, and selling the produce in its own retail outlets in the country.