Date:18/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/18/stories/2006051819820500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Summer's bounty

Kannal Achuthan

Mangoes have taken centre stage at fruit shops in the city

Chennai: Summer can be a stuffy, sweaty time but Nature balances it out by offering a range of delicious seasonal fruit to indulge in.

From the wholesale shops of the Koyambedu market to pavement stalls, shelves are stacked high with mangoes, sapota, melon and pineapple. Vendors say that there is very little wastage as the stock for the day is usually sold out.

"For now, Chennai's most favoured mango variety is the Banganapalli," says R. Moorthy, a fruit trader at Panagal Park Market. It is extremely delicious both as fruit and as juice, he says. Banganapalli comes from Satyavedu, Suravalikandigai and villages along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. The wholesale cost of the fruit is Rs. 900 for 100 pieces but it costs about Rs. 35 per kg in the retail market.

The Himam Pasand variety offers a close contest, says N.L. Swamy of the Koyambedu Retail Fruit Vendors Association. Mr. Swamy describes it as the "best quality mango". It is sourced from Salem, Sriperumbudur and Andhra Pradesh. Himam Pasand costs about Rs. 80 per kg.

Alphonse mangoes seem to be the best-marketed variety with the "choicest fruit hand-picked and home-delivered", as many online shopping portals advertise. A dozen mangoes costs Rs. 600 online. Senthura and Kalapadi are the other choices on offer. Bangalora and Neelam are the two varieties that will hit the stores by the end of the month. Customers crowd the Pazhamuthir cholai and Pazhamuthir nilayam outlets in the city during all parts of the day. Those who buy fruit at the stores also end up trying the various juices and shakes on offer. Mango drinks have also become a favourite with visitors to the Fruit Shop on Greams Road.

Apart from the reigning king of fruits, sapota has flooded the market. Sapota can be bought for Rs. 40 per kg and `chikku milkshake' has found a top slot in the menus of juice shops. Truckloads of pineapple also arrive from Kerala at the Koyambedu market everyday. A large-sized pineapple could cost between Rs. 15 and Rs. 20 in the retail market.

Many people also like the muskmelon or kirni pazham.