Rare fruits on display, sale at Hopcoms mela from tomorrow

Hopcoms will organise a two-month-long fruit mela at Lalbagh from February 24.
Hopcoms managing director B Krishna told reporters on Monday that apart from watermelon, grapes and oranges, the mela, which will open at 11 am near the Glass House, will feature chakotta, pomelu, bela and phalsa fruits. 

There will be a 10 per cent discount on the sales at the mela, which is being held as part of the birth centenary celebrations of horticulturist M H Marigowda. The unique feature of the mela this year is that temperate fruits from different countries will be on display and sale. At least 50 rare fruits from other countries will be exhibited and sold. There will be 275 stalls from Bengaluru rural, Bengaluru urban, Ramanagaram, Chickaballapur and Doddaballapur.

The mela is limited to farmers from Karnataka to promote their local produce. Last year, around 300 tonnes of fruits were sold. The department expects sales of 500 tonnes this year, Krishna said.

A special training programme on mushroom cultivation, kitchen gardening and jam and jelly preparation will also be held. The department has banned use of plastic below 40 microns inside the botanical garden. There will also be a stall promoting waste management.

The regular grape and watermelon mela, which is held annually at Hopcoms’ Hudson Circle unit, will continue and fruits sold there will also be sold at a discount of 10 percent till the end of the season.

For the mela, the department will procure grapes from Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Bengaluru rural and urban, Nashik, Sangli and Kadur. Watermelon is being procured from Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Kolar and Kalaburagi.

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