ROHAN SHRIVASTAV
rohan@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The mango season has commenced in the State and Goa’s most sought after seasonal fruit is available in the markets. However, consumers across the State have raised apprehensions over the quality of mangoes and wonder if these mangoes are fresh and natural or artificially ripened?
Mankurad (king of mangoes) and Hapus are the two varieties of mangoes, currently widely available in the Panjim market, which range between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 per dozen. Fruit sellers said that Mankurad is locally grown, while most of the consignment of Hapus and other varieties are being imported from neighbouring Karnataka.
At present, the mangoes available in markets and with the roadside fruit vendors appear to be natural and fresh, a section of consumers have raised apprehensions over their quality.
However, people alleged some mangoes could have been artificially ripened using harmful chemicals and sold as natural and fresh.
“Farmers pluck the fruits prematurely and by the time they hit the market shelves they are ripened using calcium carbide and other chemicals. I prefer to buy mangoes directly from farms,” said Manoj Naik, a resident of Taleigao.
Pooja Parab, a Panjim resident questioned whether the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) department is maintaining a vigil on the fruits imported from the neighbouring States such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.
“Mango is one of my favourite seasonal fruits. The taste of artificial ripened mangoes is different from the naturally ripened ones. I bought Mankurad in Panjim market two days ago, but it lacked natural sweetness. The food safety watchdog should carry out surprise checks in the markets and test fruits to detect artificial ripening,” Parab demanded.
Sameer Prabhudesai said that the people fall for the shiny appearance of mangoes and that the health authorities should come out with a mechanism to randomly check the fruits and vegetables entering the market complexes in the State.
“We are receiving Mankurad supply from local farmers and other varieties are mostly from outside the State. I have been in this business for over two decades and I can tell you with all confidence that each fruit in my shop is chemical free and 100 per cent safe for consumption,” claimed a fruit vendor at the Panjim market.
“The mango consignments are brought to the market through agents and regular suppliers. Some local farmers approach us with their produce. We don’t know what happens during storage and transportation. We sell the fruits as we get them. We never add chemicals or powder. FDA officials have been collecting samples and never found anything,” said another fruit vendor from the city market.
