TNR DESK
Dharamshala: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, unveiled a cutting-edge fruit processing plant in Parala, Theog tehsil, Shimla district. Financed by the World Bank under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project, the Rs 100 crore facility is set to revolutionize the production of apple juice concentrate (AJC), ready-to-serve juice, jams, pectin, vinegar, and wine by the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC).
Sukhu remarked, “This plant will be a milestone in the development of the area and its fruit industry, providing fair prices to growers.” The AJC unit boasts a crushing capacity of 10 MT apples per hour, producing 1,800 MT of AJC in a season. The ready-to-serve juice line can package 2,000 liters per hour, and the pectin line will yield 800 kg daily. The wine unit has an annual capacity of 1 lakh liters, and the plant will produce 50,000 liters of vinegar per year.
Using state-of-the-art machines for crushing and filtration, HPMC officials anticipate improved product quality. Additionally, the strategic location of the plant in the apple belt will absorb a significant quantity of C grade apples, reducing transportation costs. Former HPMC vice-chairman Prakash Thakur sees the plant as a boost to the horticulture sector but suggests diversifying into products like apple alcoholic cider for increased market competitiveness.
