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HPMC to Use Apples for Wine and Liquor Production
Shimla, Updated At : 22:53 PM Aug 23, 2025 IST
The Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) has announced that it will focus on producing alcoholic beverages such as wine, liquor, and schnapps from apples procured under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Until now, most apples processed at HPMC facilities were used for juice and apple concentrate production.
Horticulture Secretary C. Paulrasu said, “This year, more emphasis will be placed on manufacturing alcoholic beverages.”
In a departure from past practice, apples collected this season will not be auctioned at Parwanoo. Instead, HPMC has engaged a company that will purchase the harvested apples at a fixed rate of ₹8 per kilogram. After meeting HPMC’s processing requirements, the company will be supplied with any surplus fruit.
Previously, the harvested apples were transported to Parwanoo for auction, often fetching only ₹3 to ₹4 per kilogram. Paulrasu noted that the new arrangement ensures better prices without the need for auctions. HPMC will continue to bear the cost of transporting apples to Parwanoo.
He further highlighted that in earlier years, large quantities of unsold, rotting apples were discarded in Parwanoo, leading to environmental problems in the area. Moreover, the auction system often resulted in some harvested apples entering the open market, which in turn affected retail prices.
