Organized by the Maharashtra state agriculture produce marketing board and the Sangli APMC in Kolhapur, the recent 10-day grape festival was met with a huge response. Some 20 tons of grapes were sold during the festival, resulting in a turnover of more than Rs 1.5 mln (€18,000).
Dinkar Patil, the chairman of Sangli APMC, said: “Through 18 stalls, a turnover of Rs 15.54 lakh was made. Roughly 20 ton of grapes and 1.25 ton of dried grapes (raisins) were sold. Grape varieties like Crimson, Jyoti, Ansuhka, Super Sonakka, Red Globe, Manikchaman, Krishna seedless, Sharad seedless, R.K. Super etc. were on display.”
“The highest sales were for Red Globe and Manikchaman. Last year, the grapes sold on average for Rs 80-100 per kg, but this year, as the produce has been abundant, the average price was about Rs 60 per kg. Organic grapes also got a good response.”
[ Rs100 = €1.20 ]
