Dusehri, Alphonso sell like hot cakes on Day 1

BANGALORE: The season of succulent mangoes is here and so is the annual extravaganza it brings with it. The annual mango and jackfruit mela drew massive crowds on Day 1, with juicy Dusehris and aromatic Alphonsos stealing the show.
With 54 varieties of mangoes on display, the month-long event kickstarted on Friday. And it had them all: The curvy Totaparis; the Sakara Guttis, which are the size of litchis; Omlet, the biggest of the lot; Tommy Atkins, the purple wonder; Lily, with its reddish pink tinge, Hamlet and many more.
The luscious spread aside, lower prices are a major factor in drawing crowds. The fruits at the mela are around 20 per cent cheaper than those sold at Hopcoms and other retail outlets. Dusehri, priced at Rs 80 per kg, is the most sought after, with Alphonso, the king of mangoes, coming a close second in terms of popularity. The latter costs Rs 100 per kg.
From schoolkids to their grandparents, the event drew the young and the old alike. "My parents brought me here to see the mango exhibition and I am in awe of the king of fruits. I bought a lot of mangoes for my family, especially Alphonsos," said Spoorthi NU, a class II student of Vidya Vardhaka School, Rajajinagar. Even visitors from Mumbai, Gujarat and Assam trickled in. "I have never seen so many mangoes in one place. The fruits we bought will ripen by the time we reach Mumbai," said Gerth Sequeira and Violet Eustace.
Farmers and consumers
Horticulture and agricultural marketing minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who inaugurated the event, said such melas are an attempt to reduce mango prices and increase exports. Dr Jayaprakash, supervisor of the event and additional director (fruits), horticulture department, said the aim is to bring farmers directly to the consumer. "We have a bumper sale every year and people can bargain," he said. This year, however, the mela has seen a drop in mango production because of inadequate rainfall, thereby reducing profits. There were a few jackfruit stalls too.
The mela will be on till June 15, from 8am to 7pm.
Mango variety and price (Rs)
Badami: 65
Mallika: 60
Keasar: 55
Amarapalli: 60
Banganapalli: 45
Malgoa: 80
Raspuri: 50
Kaalapad: 50
Dusseri: 80
Sakkare Gutti: 55
Totapari: 20
Omlet: 30
Alphonso: 100