India is considered to be the largest producer of sapota in the world. It is mainly cultivated in the coastal areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, west Bengal, Punjab and Haryana.

Botanical Name : Achras zapota Or Manilkara achras- (Mill.) Fosberg.
Family : Sapotaceae
Centre of Origin : Tropical America
Pollination System : Cross pollinated
Chromosome No : 2n=26

Economic importance:
-------------------

The fruit is a good source of digestible sugar (15-20%) and an appreciable source of protein, fat, fibre and minerals (Ca, P and Fe.) Sapota pulp is used for making sweets and halwas. It is also an ingredient of fruit salads and milk shakes. The milky latex secreted by unripe sapota fruits , known as chuckle forms the base for making chicklet and chewing gum.