Our soapnuts  come from  Himachal Pradesh state. This mountainous region (Himalayan piedmont plain, 500 to 1500 meters high) is very suitable for Sapindus Mukorossi (soap trees) and for high quality soapnuts production.  

      
Sapindus Mukorossi grow in the wild, next to fields, in gardens, in wild areas and also in forests. It is not brought under cultivation. Today renewed interest and large harvest of soapnuts do not weaken subsistence crops. Yearly gathered volumes are much higher than demand and could as well be considerably increased.

Picking soapnuts is a further activity to farmers. They visit tree owners during blooming periods (May-June). They assess the coming harvest according to blooming intensity and “set aside” trees for a certain sum of money. (one tree can deliver 200 up to 1500 kg nuts). 
 
Between mid September and mid October, it is time for manual gathering and packing in 70 kgs bags. A “Collector” comes then to purchase  from farmers the soapnuts, and sell the batch to a wholesaler. Thanks to him, there is a demand. He is the only person able to supply the existing local market with large amounts : the market of chemical washings into which  crushed soapnuts are incorporated.