Date:22/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022219510400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

No sour grapes as mela begins

Staff Reporter

Several seedless varieties offered at discount

WITHIN REACH: Varieties of grapes on show at the `Grapes mela' at HOPCOMS in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: The month-long annual grapes mela organised by the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Cooperative Society (HOPCOMS) began here on Tuesday. Minister for Cooperation G.T. Devegowda inaugurated the event.

The mela will be held at two places — HOPCOMS stall in Hudson Circle and at a stall near Rajalakshmi Nursing Home in J.P. Nagar 1st Phase. The mela will be extended to different parts of the city, according to HOPCOMS managing director P. Vishwanatha.

On offer at the mela are the red grape varieties such as Flame Seedless and Red Globe (Rs. 45 per kg each). There are other varieties, including the black Sharad Seedless grapes (Rs. 38 per kg), the amber coloured Thomson Seedless (Rs. 25 per kg) and Sharad Cremson (Rs. 45 per kg).

It is offering 5 kg packet of Bangalore blue grapes at Rs. 67. The grapes are offered at 10 per cent discount to the market price.

Inaugurating the mela, the Minister said the State Government was awaiting clearance from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner about setting up of more HOPCOMS outlets. The Government will be spending Rs. 5 crore for HOPCOMS development, he said.