The department has set up 75 stalls for sale of fruits. On the first day only around 50 stalls were open. Majority of the stalls display fruits grown in Kolar district, the place known for mango cultivation. The department did not issue price list for the shopkeepers. From Sunday a committee of officers will fix price on a daily basis and ensure that all shopkeepers follow the same.

Transport minister R Ashok said the mela was a common platform for growers and buyers. It helped avoid middlemen, who took away a share of profit from the growers. Both the farmers and buyers would be benefited.

The feature of the mela was that all fruits were naturally ripened. And, price in the mela would be less than price in the open market. The department would not fix price for jackfruit varieties. The growers would be free to fix the price. Most of the visitors to the mela preferred tasting jackfruit pieces rather than buying fruits. Visitors get between three to seven pieces for Rs 10.

The department has also organised an exhibition of different varieties of mangoes and minor fruits as part of the mela. Some of the fruit varieties displayed are jack, jamun, rose apple, amla, carambola, pummelo, custard apple, ramphal, Malayan apple, watery rose apple. The exhibition will be open till Monday.
DH News Service