Carbide free fruits in city market

Honouring the High Court’s directives against using carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, the fruit merchants association of Vijayawada decided to sell carbide-free fruits at all the places in the city. The association members said that they are ready to open carbide-free fruit shops in the city honouring the court directive.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, Fruit merchants association leader S Venkateswara Rao said that they are importing apples from Himachal Pradesh, pomegranate, raisins and citrus fruits from Maharashtra, grapes from Karnataka and pineapples from Kerala.

He said over 10 to 14 lorries of apples will be imported on a daily biases from Himachal Pradesh, one lorry of Pineapple, four lorries of pomegranate, 6 lorries of citrus fruits and 4 lorries of grapes to Vijayawada market. He made it clear that there is no need for use of carbide for these varieties as they will be damaged immediately if carbide is used.

He said that the Association will strictly monitor the situation and warn those who violate the rule. He also said that the officials should not punish the traders if the fruits have chemical contents from their harvesting stage in northern states. It may be noted that the fruit traders prefer method of artificial ripening of fruits for quick gain.

The practice of artificial ripening of fruits is more in bananas and mangos. As there was no check the age old practice has been continuing for several decades now. One can notice hundreds of carbide sachets at the fruit ripening sheds during mango season.

Vijayawada has biggest fruit market at Kedareswarapet in addition to Mango market at Nunna. The fruit traders decided to adopt carbide-free fruit policy in the city to improve their sales and to win the confidence of fruit lovers.