Fruit prices to rise due to Maharashtra rains; Veg prices to be stable [ Transfreez mobile refrigeration - India's most effective Cold Plate Reefers ]

Due to unseasonable rains and hailstorms in certain parts of Maharashtra, the prices of fruits would rise by 20 to 30 per cent, but those of vegetables would remain stable until June 2014.

Crops have got damaged in parts of the state, and that is the reason farmers are not able to supply their produce in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market in Navi Mumbai.

The worst-hit fruit include grapes, oranges and pomegranate. Over the next fifteen days, consumers could expect a rise in their wholesale and retail prices.

Sanjay Pansare, director, fruit market, APMC, informed FnB News the impact was already being felt on the fruit, whose prices have risen by 10%, and would increase by 20-30% fortnightly.

“On account of these unseasonal rains and hailstorms, grapes, bananas, pomegranate, oranges and other fruit have been affected adversely,” he added.

“Crops spread over hectares of land has been damaged. Traders are expecting the prices of most fruit to rise by at least 30%, but the exact prices would be known in the next 10 days,” Pansare said.

“As summer is around the corner, people crave fruit. But with the increase in the fruit prices, the common man will be a disappointed for the common man,” he added.

“Kesar mangoes would be badly affected. During the peak season, ten tonne kesar mangoes enter the APMC market from places like Latur and Aurangabad,” Pansare informed.

“Most of the damage was done by the hailstorm well before the ripe crop was ready to be plucked,” he added.

Sanjay Karande, trader, vegetable market, APMC, said, “Hailstorms and unseasonable rains in parts of Maharashtra have affected many crops.”

“However, only fruit would be affected badly, because vegetables are not grown in large quantities in the affected areas,” he added.

“The prices of vegetable prices would remain stable, but we expect them to rise in June,” Karande added.


Transfreez mobile refrigeration - India's most effective Cold Plate Reefers
Source: fnbNews.com

Kochi beats the heat with exotic fruits [Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers]

Soaring temperature in the city has seen the demand for fruits go up as citizens look for a way to beat the early onset of summer. The preference this year has veered towards the more exotic and imported variants of fruits, according to shopkeepers, who have lined their shops with grapes from Peru, Fuji apples from Japan, pears from the US, among others.

"There has been a big demand for exotic varieties such as Ecosac grapes, Lucky Boy and Pink Lady apples. People prefer different varieties of fruits, especially imported ones," said Mathew Joseph, accountant, IG International Fruit Dealers. "The Kiwi fruit shipped from New Zealand, Iran and Italy; guavas from Thailand; and even seedless grapes from Chile and the US are the most sought after fruits," he added.

The demand for melons such as Kiran, Zamam, muskmelon and the normal water melons have gone up. At Kadavanthra local market, apples from Washington are available from Rs 150 to Rs 180 per kg. The Kashmir and China apples range between Rs 150 and Rs 170 per kg, while rose and black grapes come in the Rs 25-30 range, and white Angoor at Rs 60 to 70 per kg.

"The apples were imported last month and stored in large freezer containers at Aroor. The fruits are then dispatched to the local market according to the demand. However, Srinagar and Nagercoil oranges are available in plenty at Rs 40 per kg," said K K Saji, fruit vendor.

But local fruit vendors are being upstaged by malls when it comes to business. All fruits are available at hypermarts which sell them at lower rates as they buy them at wholesale price.

"Seasonal fruits are available for 10 to 15% less as they are available in plenty. However, exotic fruits such as dragon fruit, mangosteen, rambutan, rose apple (jambakka), avocados and longan fruit, all from Thailand, are sold at a premium," said Umar Mustafa of Lulu Hypermart. Lulu alone buys eight tonnes of seasonal fruits from different parts of the country.

The local market is, meawhile, witnessing the arrival of mangoes with rates ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 130 a kg. "By April, the rate will come down," said Shihan, fruit merchant, Kadavanthara market.


Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers
Source: Times of India

India 30 percent rise in vegetable, fruit prices expected [Transfreez Mobile Refrigertion-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers]

Traders say that all crops standing in the fields, whether fruits or vegetables, have been damaged by the unseasonable rainfall and hail, and prices could soar in a fortnight.

Traders in the APMC market say that all produce that grows above the ground has been affected, the effect of which will be perceptible in the markets within a fortnight from now. Fewer trucks laden with greens and fruits are expected to be driving into the city.

Vegetable and fruit
Sanjay Pansare, director of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in Vashi, said, “Grapes, bananas and pomegranate production has been hit badly on account of these unseasonable rains and hailstorms. Crops spread over hectares of land have been damaged.

Grapes, Pomegranate and Orange
We are anticipating a 30 per cent hike in prices, but the exact price rise would be gauged in 8-10 days. With summer round the corner, people crave fruits. But if prices increase, it could be a big disappointment for the common man.”

Apple, Watermelon and Sweet Lime
Kesar mangoes are said to have been affected badly. Usually, nine to 10 tonnes of this variety enter the wholesale markets during peak season, from places like Aurangabad and Latur.

The damage was mostly done by the hailstones that fell on the ripe crops, days before they were ready to be plucked. Shankar Pingale, director of the vegetable market, said, “The market receives tomatoes from Latur, cucumber from Solapur and leafy vegetables from Nashik, all of which have been affected by hailstones and untimely rains. The price rise would be understood in about 10 days, if there is a drop in the number of trucks and tempos carrying greens.”

Top traders fear that the quality of produce entering the market will also be affected. Ajit Bhorade, another trader from Vashi APMC, said, “Presently in the wholesale market, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 6 per kg, but with the damaged produce reaching the market, there is sure to be a shortage soon. In wholesale market, the price may go up to Rs 12 per kg. Pune zilla is a huge supplier of fresh greens, and therefore, the hailstones and rains are a cause of concern to everyone.”

Transfreez Mobile Refrigertion-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers

Source: mid-day.com 

Rains spoil veggies, fruits, prices to soar [Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers]

Brace to pay more for vegetables and fruits as the spell of rain and hailstorm last week has hit the supply of major farm produce in the agricultural belt the city sources its stock from. Supplies of essential vegetables such as tomato and onion, besides several fruits have been affected. Traders anticipate prices in the retail market to escalate over the next couple of days.

While wholesale prices of vegetables and fruits have already shot up by 10-20% in the last one week, wholesale market rates may go up by at least 50% in the days ahead. "The rain and the hailstorm have affected crops which grow both above and below the ground. As a result, supply of practically all vegetables and fruits grown locally has been affected. We are expecting rates to go up even further," said Shivlal Bhosale, president of the Market Yard Commission Agents Association.

Heavy rains in the last couple of days in areas like Baramati, Junnar, Ambegaon and Shirur among others have severely damaged crops and the shortage in supply will soon reflect in the market, said Sanjiv Khadke, administrator of the city's Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee. "We are expecting a drop in the quantity of produce reaching the Pune market. With the marriage season also around the corner, buyers will begin to feel the price heat in the next 3-4 days," he said. The wheat crop in the Vidharba belt is also affected, Khadke added.

Bhosale said the entire crop of green leafy vegetables such as spinach, fenugreek and coriander have been spoilt in the rain. Cabbage crops too are at the risk of rotting. "Whatever little produce of these could be saved may now go at throwaway prices, that too if there are any buyers for that quality," he said.

Wholesale prices of onion have already gone up by Rs 2/kg over the last two days, traders said, indicating a further upward movement in the days ahead. "Wholesale prices have been rising steadily since last week. The cloudy weather conditions during November and December were bad for Rabi crop of onion. Rain in the last couple of days has only added to the farmers' misery. With large quantities of the crop being diverted for export and to northern states like Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, the supply of onion available for sale in Pune is down by almost half," said Ritesh Poman, wholesale trader of onion at Market Yard.

Retailers have already begun to increase the prices. "We have no other option but to increase prices. Wholesalers have already hiked their rates, so we can't afford to suffer a loss," said Bhaskar Mhesta, a retailer in Baner.

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Imported fruit may have to pass pesticide test [Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's most effective Cold Plate Reefer]

Are those beautifully packed and fresh looking exotic fruits displayed on the stands in posh markets really healthy?

We'll find it out very soon as for the first time, imported fruits and vegetables are set to come under pesticide watch following the recommendations from a courtappointed committee.

In the wake of the reports of rampant contamination of vegetables and fruits in Delhi's markets, the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court have initiated several steps to curb the use of pesticides and artificial colour for enhancing their size and appearance.

The amount of pesticides in fruits and vegetables in India, and especially those sold in Delhi markets, were as much as 750 times the European standards, NGOs Center for Public Interest Litigation and Consumer Voice claimed in the SC and HC, respectively. 

The NGOs claimed in their pleas that the fruits were a toxic cocktail of banned pesticides capable of causing headache, cancer, heart disease, infertility and pose a risk to the nervous system and liver. 

The banned pesticides included chlordane, a rat poison that affects the nervous system and endrin, an insecticide that causes headache. 

"Surprise checks will be conducted at major markets once in a month and there will not be any differentiation between local fruits and vegetables and those imported. 

The court panel's report says an eye has to be kept on them also as they too are susceptible to contamination because of lucrative business," Meera Bhatia, the lawyer for Delhi government said. 

Terming the situation as "alarming", the court said 1.7 crore Delhiites everyday consume fruits and vegetables unfit for human consumption. 

It had recently asked the Delhi government to publicise the short-term measures and Dos and Don'ts suggested by the expert committee to minimise the presence of pesticides residue. 

+2

Ordering intensification of the crackdown against the contamination, the court has sought a status report on April 15. 

"No such consignment should be allowed to enter the country without pre-dispatch pesticide testing report by the exporter.

Samples of imported fruits and vegetables should be drawn by plant quarantine stations at international arrival points and monitored for the presence of pesticide residues," said a report filed in the court by the panel headed by Sandhya Kulshreshta, additional deputy DG in the health ministry. 

"Surprise inspections were conducted in many markets like Azadpur Mandi, Kotla, Mayur Vihar, Sarojini Nagar, INA, Defence Colony, Vasant Vihar and Lodhi Estate in the last three years. We found that pesticides, toxic colours and hormones are being used by farmers and traders to speed up growth, ripen and improve colour," said Bhatia. 

The expert committee said results of tests should be posted on the website of the Delhi government's food department along with the name of the market. 

The SC said: "Right to life and human dignity encompasses, within its ambit availability of articles of food without insecticides or pesticides residues. 

But the fact remains that food available in the market contain insecticides or pesticides residues, beyond the tolerable limits, causing serious health hazards. 

Fruit-based soft drinks also contain pesticides in alarming proportion, but no attention is made to examine its contents. 

Harmful for kids 

"Children and infants are uniquely susceptible to the effects of pesticides because of their physiological immaturity and greater exposure to soft drinks". 

The SC directed Food and Safety Standards Authority of India to coordinate with counterparts in all the states and conduct periodical inspections and monitoring of major fruits and vegetable markets.

[Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's most effective Cold Plate Reefer]

Source: MailonlineIndia

Delhi’s Fruit and Veggies Unfit for Humans, Says Court [Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Refrigerated Trucks]

Some fruits and vegetables on sale in India’s capital are unfit for consumption because they contain alarming levels of pesticide residue, the Delhi High Court said Wednesday.

The court’s observation was based on a report that examined food samples in the capital and found a fraction of them to contain pesticide residues above the maximum residue limit.

India still uses pesticides that have been banned in several other countries, according to the World Health Organization.

The court ordered the government of New Delhi to set up a “Pesticide Residue Management Cell” within four weeks to address the issue. It also asked the city’s government and the Ministry of Agriculture to act quickly to make consumers and farmers aware of the presence of banned pesticides in their food.

As a short-term measure, the court ordered the state and national governments to translate into local languages, circulate and publicize information about pesticides at vegetable stands, railway stations and bus stops, as well as on their websites. It also ordered that fruits and vegetables be periodically tested for pesticide content.

Each year, a panel of experts submits a report to the Ministry of Agriculture that details the level of pesticides in food sold in the open market. This report, though, is not made public, said Ashok Kanchan, a technical advisor with New Delhi-based nonprofit, Consumer Voice.

In 2010, the nonprofit conducted its own study to assess pesticide levels in food. That study tested for 106 types of pesticides at a government-accredited laboratory, and found food samples from New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai, among other cities, to contain harmful levels of pesticides.

Consumer Voice found that mangoes, for example, contained DDT, a pesticide that was used to contain malaria, but has been banned since the 1970s in Western countries because it harms crops. Only India and China still produce the pesticide, mainly for domestic use.

Other foods contained pesticides which are believed to cause cancer, kidney and lung ailments, as well as other long-term illnesses, the nonprofit found.

Mr. Kanchan said they also discovered that cherries contained endosulfan, a highly poisonous insecticide that causes mental and physical disabilities. Last week, the government of the southern state of Karnataka decided to compensate 1,815 victims who fell sick after endosulfan was found to have been sprayed in plantations they consumed foods from, The Hindu reported.

After the nonprofit’s study was brought to its attention, the Delhi High Court ordered a probe into the safety of food items in the capital. Indian courts often launch “suo moto” probes in instances where the subject matter is of public interest. Wednesday’s hearing was based on findings of a court-sanctioned committee, which tested food items across the capital and concluded that much of it was unfit for consumption.

The court also opined that state-run bodies, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, had failed in their duty to protect consumers against harmful pesticides. It ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and the government of Delhi to present long-term measures to address high-pesticide levels. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 15.

[Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Refrigerated Trucks]

- Source: India Real Time

NDDB may help market fruits, vegetables in Jharkhand

The national dairy development department board (NDDB) may help Jharkhand in marketing and product enhancement of vegetables and fruits in the state.

The state government on Saturday inked an agreement with the board for five years for dairy development in the state.

As the NDDB’s Mother Dairy will be sold with the tag of Medha milk in Jharkhand, the union minister Jairam Ramesh suggested the state government to use the brand of Mother Dairy even for marketing and product enhancement of vegetables and fruits.

“Mother Dairy is not a brand of milk products but it is also popular for fresh vegetables and fruits,” Ramesh said.

Under the brand name ‘Safal,’ the Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd has been undertaking integrated marketing of horticultural produce. An official of the state horticulture department said that they would soon prepare a strategy in this regard.

Jharkhand has been the surplus state in terms of vegetable production. However, owing to lack of marketing strategy, storage facility and processing plants, the state is yet to reap desired results from the vegetable productions. As per the Jharkhand economic survey 2013-14, vegetables’ production is 4325.38 million tons cultivated on 3.21 lakh hectare area in 2012-13. Jharkhand’s annual vegetable demand is just 3000 million ton.

Similarly, production of production of fruits has also increased many folds in last 13 years. The production of fruits was 265.1 million tons in 2000-01 that increased to 889.74 million ton. The area for fruits’ production has also increased by three fold in last 13 years. In 2000-01, areas for fruit cultivation were just 29,900 hectares that increased to 93,820 hectares in 2012-13.

HT Correspondent  Ranchi, March 03, 2014