Dehradun: Uttarakhand has many inspiring stories of women's empowerment and self-reliance. Anjali Gupta, a woman from Barasi village in Dehradun's Raipur block, is one such person who has transformed a personal talent for pickling into a thriving commercial brand called 'Avika', named after her daughter.

A few years ago, Anjali discovered her talent for making delicious pickles at home. She turned this skill into a brand. Anjali began by making pickles for family and neighbours, who encouraged her to pursue it professionally. She initially sold her products through a local self-help group without any formal branding.

Dehradun Raipur

Anjali told ETV Bharat, "I have always been passionate about making pickles. My family and neighbours loved handmade pickles. After seeing the ever-increasing demand for pickles, I worked on developing a brand that was based on organic and local ingredients."

She started her pickle-making journey with mango pickles. Initially, she would only buy 15-20 kilograms of mangoes each season. Today, through consistency and hard work, she buys and stores approximately 200 to 300 kilograms of mangoes each season. The demand for her pickles continues to grow.

ETV Bharat

Anjali gradually expanded to making pickles from carrots, radishes, amla, chilies and garlic. Initially, she made pickles at home as a hobby, but for the past two years, she has been doing it commercially. To run this business, she rented a shop where she runs a stand-alone restaurant, displaying her pickle brand, and selling it from there. She explained that she currently has several different flavours available, including garlic, asafoetida, amla, green chilli, red chilli, dry mango pickles and other regular flavours.

Why are homemade pickles so special? Anjali says the 'Avika' brand relies on village-grown produce, using local orchards and home-grown spices to ensure organic quality. She buys mangoes from the local mango orchard. She uses garlic and home-grown spices available in the village to prepare the pickles.

Anjali told ETV Bharat, "I have always been passionate about making pickles.

Why this lands now

Wild and seasonal foods reward anyone who buys little and often, since the difference between a good week and a great one is usually measured in days.

At a glance

  • Dehradun: Uttarakhand has many inspiring stories of women's empowerment and self-reliance
  • Anjali told ETV Bharat, "I have always been passionate about making pickles

Figures worth noting

  • Initially, she would only buy 15-20 kilograms of mangoes each season
  • Today, through consistency and hard work, she buys and stores approximately 200 to 300 kilograms of mangoes each season

In short

The details will firm up over the coming months. What is already clear is that this is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.