The apple seed of Garhwal is the gift by a man called Fredrick E. Wilson aka Pahadi Wilson who introduced apples to the Bhagirathi Valley. The Stokes of Kotgadh and Banons of Kullu were pioneers in the cultivation of apple orchards in the Himalaya.
Did Wilson foresee that two hundred years down the line, he would one day be remembered for bringing prosperity to the region thanks to apple produce, putting not just Hursil, but the entire district of Uttarakashi on the map of horticulture produce and tourism.
Today, eight varieties of apples including Wilson Apple, Royal Delicious, Red Delicious grow in abundance in the region, seeking their own personalised brand as ‘Hursil Apple.’
Director of Indo-Dutch Horticulture Technologies Sudhir Chadha who has been surveying and assisting apple growers in the region tells us, “we did an extensive survey and study in Uttarakhand and came to the conclusion that the District of Uttarakashi alone can substitute for apple import. Aarakot hills, Sankri Natwar region including Hursil have ample potential, while low-lying areas of the district have been successful in experiments with new apple stock brought in from Netherlands, France and Italy.“
Making the most of what the district has to offer, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi Ashish Kumar tells us, “On the 28th of September, a day event will be held in Hursil. It will be first-of-its-kind fair which will bring apple buyers and sellers on an interactive platform and also serve the dual purpose of connecting Hursil in Uttarkashi to other destinations on the tourism map as well.”
Visitor, locals and tourists alike shall be invitees to partake the Apple harvest from the orchards abutting Hursil. The local economy swivels around the apple crop. Perhaps the branding of this produce will help bring Wilson’s apples on par with apples that go by the name of Himanchal Apple.
