Reports about the use of chemicals to ripen mangoes and other unsafe methods, have reduced consumer confidence in commonly available market goods. Hence, the popularity of organically-grown fruits and vegetables has increased, and more people are taking up homestead farming to fill the growing niche for safe-to-eat products.
As the summer season peaks, so does the demand for fruits, including jack and mangoes, which are perennial favourites with the people of Kerala, who go out of their way to get the best in town.
The jack fruit and mango festival is now going on at the Kerala Agricultural Development Society near Vennala.
The secretary of the Society V.P. George said that around 5,000 farmers are members of KADS and among them around 900 farmers are organically certified.
There are around 1,200 farmers, who are on their way to being certified as organic cultivators, he said.
The KADS sale is on at its permanent outlet near the Pranavam Hall, Alinchuvadu-Vennala Road and the response has been great, said Mr. George.
Besides the seasonal fruits, KADS has also been mobilising safe-to-eat vegetables from areas like Kanthalloor and Vattavada areas in the High Ranges for sale here.
The organisers have taken care to source their mangoes from the Muthalamada area in Palakkad. Mr. George said that care had been taken to ensure that the mangoes were safe.
