HPMC brings Himachal’s fruit legacy to Chandigarh fair

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday said the CII Chandigarh Fair provided small businesses an opportunity to showcase their products, reach wider audiences and grow, while helping consumers choose quality products suited to their needs. Speaking exclusively to The North News at Parade Ground, Sector 17, Kataria said such events benefited stall owners, entrepreneurs, business professionals and consumers by creating opportunities for business growth and product discovery.

For HPMC, the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation, the fair also provides an opportunity to connect with consumers through its range of fruit-based products. Monica Kashyap, speaking to The North News, said this was her first time participating in the CII Chandigarh Fair 2026, and visitors’ response had been encouraging.

She said consumers were interested in the juices and squashes because they were organic and had no added sugar. Describing the experience as wonderful, Kashyap said people had become increasingly health-conscious and were willing to buy products made entirely from organic ingredients.

Established on June 10, 1974, with financial assistance from the World Bank, HPMC is a Himachal Pradesh Government undertaking that provides post-harvest facilities to fruit growers and helps them secure better returns for their produce.

The corporation initially focused on marketing fresh fruits and processing surplus produce. Over the years, it developed infrastructure for fruit grading, packaging, storage and processing, helping farmers adopt modern technology and meet international market requirements.

HPMC operates fruit processing plants at Parwanoo and Jarol in Sundernagar, with capacities to process 18,000 metric tonnes and 2,000 metric tonnes of apples, respectively. Its facilities include juice filling and aseptic packaging units, computerized apple grading and packing lines, controlled-atmosphere stores and cold storage infrastructure.

The corporation has expanded its product portfolio to include fruit juices, drinks, pulps, concentrates, squashes, fruit wines, ciders, jams, pickles and mineral water. It sources fruits directly from Himachal Pradesh, known for its horticultural produce.

Through its work in fruit processing, storage and marketing, HPMC has improved market access for growers while making fruit-based products available to consumers in domestic and international markets.