Visitors to the Sims Park in Coonoor on Saturday, the first day of the 61st Fruit Show, were elated at the horticulture department’s decision to implement a “zero fruit wastage” policy for the first time since the show’s inception.
The Fruit Show, which became known for its fruit carvings and exhibits, had come in for criticism in the past for the show organisers’ propensity to waste the produce on display by pinning them to prefabricated structures. This year however, massive exhibits have been set up, though without damaging the fruits used to adorn them.
This year, more than 1.5 tonnes of fruits produced across Tamil Nadu and the Nilgiris were used to make fruit exhibits like a giant butterfly made of oranges, apples and pineapples, a fruit cart, and a massive peacock, made from a variety of different fruits. The exhibits were not only eye-catching, but also showcased the variety of fruits the state produced, horticulture department officials at the show said.
There had been concerns among officials that the fruit show this year might be hampered by officials being restricted in their designs as they were strictly directed to not damage the fruits exhibited at the show. However, visitors to the show said that this year’s show was among the best organised ones.
Gomathi L, a Nilgiris resident, and a regular visitor to the fruit show for the last few years said that the exhibits were just as beautiful this year, but said that the show was more significant this year as the new policy of the horticulture department to ensure that the fruits were consumed after the show would help spread the message among farmers that their hard work to grow the fruits would not be wasted.
Officials said that over 200 varieties of fruits from across the country were on display this year, including 21 varieties of mangoes, 13 varieties of bananas and various varieties of jackfruits, plums, peaches, rambutans and durians. The show will end on on Sunday.
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