Himachal – The Apple State

Himachal – The Apple State :

Apple, as a cash crop has given a platform to the people to raise themselves economically and has made the life easy. It always makes happy to look at the orchard with all its beauty and the apples making all the orchard young.

In India apple is mainly cultivated in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Uttrakhand. Himachal Pradesh has earned the fame of “Apple State”as the apple was first cultivated in Thanedar village of Shimla district. Apple is also the main cash crop of the state. Apple as a cash crop has given the people of Himachal Pradesh to raise themselves economically. It constitutes about 48% of the total area under production. The apple fruit industry has an economy of about Rs. 4000 crores. Himachal Pradesh currently produces an average of over 4 Lacs tonnes of apple annually,but the production is much less as compared to other countries such as China and United States.

 History :

Himachal is known for its apples not only in the country but worldwide as well. A very few know about how this fruit came to India and how it nurtured to win everyone’s heart. Samual Evan Stokes (also known as Satyananda Stokes)was the first person who started the cultivation of apple trees at a small village in Himachal named Thanedar in Shimal region.  Although, apples were grown before Stokes. The taste was sour sine the varieties were mainly Pippins and they were not much popular. Stokes went to America and found a hybrid named "Red Delicious" and he at once brought sample and grafted it. When they came up with the fruit it was extremely delicious and sixe was also good. He is known for starting the large-scale cultivation of apples in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the theories state that Captain R C Scot of the British Army had introduced apples to the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh much before Satyanand Stokes, but it is mainly due to the efforts of Satyanand Stokes today Himachal is widely known for delicious red coloured apples.

Main Areas for the production of apples in Himachal :

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh constitutes about 48 percent of the area under the production of apple. The average production is around 2.5 crore of boxes each year but may vary every year depending on the weather conditions. The production of apple is mainly done in the districts of Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi, Chamba and some areas of Sirmaur District. Nowadays the production of apples has stretched to some areas of Lahaul and Spiti district as well. The economy of these areas is mainly dependent on the production of apples. The apple season starts from June and is at its peak in the month of August when the fruits are being harvested from the higher and middle reaches of the state. The total duration of the apple season varies from June to November depending upon the altitude.

Different varieties of Apples :

The production of apples per hectare in Himachal is not that much of China and United States but it has a vast variety of apples which are grown here. The apple industry is booming as new and new varieties are being imported with the help of the local governing authorities. Some of the common varieties of Himachal apples are enlisted here along with its key features:

Tydeman : Tydeman apples are of glossy red colour and have and extra sweet spicy taste different from its other counterparts. It is an early summer variety and is available in the month of June.
Red Delicious: Red delicious apples are dark red in colour and are one of the most well-known apples which are grown commercially. It is available from July to November depending on the altitude.
Golden Delicious: Golden delicious apple is golden in colour but is not related to red delicious as it differs in terms of taste and colour. It is green skinned and is very sweet in terms of taste. It needs very careful handling as its skin is very delicate and gets damaged easily.
Gala Apple: Gala apple is mildly sweet in flavour and is very aromatic. It is widely used in salads and manufacturing sauces. It is a bit orange in colour with vertical stripes.
Granny Smith: Granny Smith apple is a hard, crispy and juicy apple which is light green in colour but turns to yellow after ripening. It is easier to preserve and store as compared to the other varieties.

Before the introduction of the apple, Himachal Pradesh  economically was not that well in the country but apple changed the destiny of the people as now, it's the most progressive area economically. Apple is a major crop in Kinnaur, Kullu and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh. The whole credit goes to Stokes for his experiment and he will be remembered for times.