The scramble for apple is all set to go intense this year as retail biggies including Reliance Fresh and Aditya Birla Group are all set to enter Himachal Pradesh for direct procurement. Most of the companies including Adani Agri Fresh, Delhi based-Dev Bhumi Cold Chain, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), Container Corporation of
India (CONCOR), ITC and Mother Dairy that would be directly procuring apple for the second year have enhanced their production targets manifold for
this season.
Reliance Fresh that would be entering direct procurement for the first time has tied up with growers in 12-15 pockets focusing mainly in Kinnaur district. The company is expected to fetch over 4,000 metric tonne of ?Royal delicious? the premium apple variety for its retail chain. ?The process of procurement has already been initiated,? an executive from Reliance Fresh said. ?The company would shortly be importing grading and processing machines,? he revealed.
Thakur said that the company is focusing on producing apple concentrate and pulp for value added precuts. ?The company is in final stages of tying up with a few big companies for processing and value added products,? Thakur said.