About 100 tonnes of mangoes were sold during the four-day mango mela, which concluded at Curzon Park on Sunday.
Senior Assistant Director of Horticulture C.R. Krishna Kumar told The Hindu that the badami variety was a clear favourite as it accounted for about half the 100 tonnes sold during the mela. About 20 tonnes of Raspuri variety was sold during the mela. The remaining varieties like Malgova, Sindhura, Mallika, Totapuri, Baiganpalli and Dussehri accounted for the remaining 30 tonnes, he added.
Mr. Krishna Kumar said mangoes worth Rs. 40 lakh were sold during the mela this year against last year’s Rs. 17 lakh. “This was because of the publicity and the awareness among consumers for a better and safer option of naturally-ripened mangoes,” he said.
Though the mangoes sold had been ripened using ethylene spray, it was considered a natural ripening agent unlike the calcium carbide chemical, which is hazardous.
During the mela, about 12 tonnes of jackfruit was sold at an average of Rs 20 per kg, he added.
