Mango mania,6 varieties for Rs 25/kg

In open market,mangoes fetch Rs at least Rs 50 per kg.

The festival is jointly organised by Environment Society of India and Fieldman Farm Fresh with the idea of spreading awareness among people against use of calcium carbide for quick ripening of fruits.

The volunteers from Fieldman Farm and Environment society claimed that all the mangoes which are being sold at the festival are naturally ripened. They asserted that if a raw mango,when wrapped in a paper,is kept under room temperature for three days,it can be ripened very easily.

By selling these mangoes directly to the consumers,these volunteers aim at helping them distinguish between the naturally and artificially ripened mangoes.

“Most of the buyers whom we have entertained since yesterday had come here just looking at the discounted prices and the varieties of the mangoes at the stalls. Hardly any of them were aware of the fact that the yellow-peel mangoes which look appealing are ripened using calcium carbide,” Rahul Mahajan,Fieldman’s managing director,said.

“It is very important for all of us to know that calcium carbide is highly injurious to human health. We have planned to set up this festival every year to promote the sale and purchase of fruits and vegetables which are free of pesticides,” Mahajan said.

The buyers are also being given complimentary seasonal sapling like tulsi and Aloe Vera,on purchase of mangoes at the festival spot.