The 11-day Kollam Mango Fest-2013, which began at the Cantonment Maidan on Friday, is disappointing visitors.
Following fears raised about the quality of the mangoes, the Commissionerate of Food Safety (CFS) has taken a good quantity of samples from the show and sent to the CFS laboratory at Thiruvananthapuram to test whether they have been chemically ripened.
District Food Safety Officer A.K. Mini told The Hindu that samples were taken at random from the loads which arrived at the venue on Friday.
The sale of mangoes at the festival on Friday and Saturday was poor compared to the brisk sales seen during the maiden Kollam mango festival at the same venue in June last year. Visitors said the collection of mango varieties at the show this time had belied their expectations. There are hardly about 15 varieties on show and most of them are common varieties available with vendors in the city. Last year about 60 varieties were on show. The number of stalls is also fewer compared to the event last year.
Many of the varieties that became popular during last year’s show were not to be seen this time. They include the Sakkarakatti variety from Tamil Nadu, which was in high demand among visitors. Even the Mallika variety from Andhra Pradesh which fascinated visitors with its unique taste is hardly seen at the venue. The absence of mango growers and traders from the neighbouring States is also conspicuous. Instead of mango, the festival seems to give more thrust to a show and sale of garments, many visitors said.
Following fears raised about the quality of the mangoes, the Commissionerate of Food Safety (CFS) has taken a good quantity of samples from the show and sent to the CFS laboratory at Thiruvananthapuram to test whether they have been chemically ripened.
District Food Safety Officer A.K. Mini told The Hindu that samples were taken at random from the loads which arrived at the venue on Friday.
The sale of mangoes at the festival on Friday and Saturday was poor compared to the brisk sales seen during the maiden Kollam mango festival at the same venue in June last year. Visitors said the collection of mango varieties at the show this time had belied their expectations. There are hardly about 15 varieties on show and most of them are common varieties available with vendors in the city. Last year about 60 varieties were on show. The number of stalls is also fewer compared to the event last year.
Many of the varieties that became popular during last year’s show were not to be seen this time. They include the Sakkarakatti variety from Tamil Nadu, which was in high demand among visitors. Even the Mallika variety from Andhra Pradesh which fascinated visitors with its unique taste is hardly seen at the venue. The absence of mango growers and traders from the neighbouring States is also conspicuous. Instead of mango, the festival seems to give more thrust to a show and sale of garments, many visitors said.
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