A bowlful of fresh fruits is something we all enjoy for breakfast, but have you ever wondered where these fruits come from? Who are the ones growing them, and under what conditions? Do they even get adequately remunerated for the hard work they are putting in while providing us with the best resources of nature? - Well, guess not!
We recently came across a viral video doing the rounds on Instagram where Minal, a travel content creator, shared the heartfelt story of her parents working in the orchards in Himachal and how she's aiming to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.
"My parents have been growing apples all their lives, and they used to sell them at the local market. I've seen this happening for years, but it was only in the last year thatI felt that the money they' receive after selling the apples in the mandi isn't sufficient, considering the effort they put in growing them, throughout the year," said Minal. She then decided to take things into her own hands and started selling the apples online.
A free soul hopping around the Himalayas, Minal's entrepreneurial skills are definitely worth praising, as she decided to venture into the business with Instagram being her only mode of connection with potential urban customers.
"Last year, we sold about 400 kgs of apples online to customers in Chandigarh and the feedback I received from them was absolutely overwhelming!" Minal's happiness could be sensed in her voice, as she described her tiny steps towards success.
She further added, "We provide the juiciest apples, fresh from the orchards of Himachal, that are delivered to the customer's doorstep within 48 hours of plucking and we don't use any colour sprays or chemicals that mature the fruit early."
As the family plucks and packs the apples, Minal's father drives all the way from Shimla to Chandigarh todeliver the apples. Sincetheir endeavor took a big leap this year, they've also started delivering in and around Delhi NCR. Needless to say, the response from the customers is overwhelming, and this young woman is dreaming bigger - to provide apples across India.
A millennial working with a hostel chain in Himachal, Minal is a pro at curating outdoor experiences for guests such as taking them through offbeat Himalayan trails. She's also keen to host travellers at her orchard in the days ahead, showing them how the fruits are being cultivated as they pluck and taste sweetness at its best, soaking in the bliss of nature.
Just like Minal's parents, there are hundreds of other apple farmers who are working on their family orchards to yield a high volume of apples every season andyet, are not able to get true value in return. Social media has definitely played an important role and provided newer avenues for the youth to successfully engage in economic activities that protect the interests of the apple producers and consumers.
They say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!", so, if you're living in Chandigarh or Delhi NCR, you can reach out to Minal for a basketful of fresh apples and share a few words of support.
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