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Fresh from the farms
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If you want to feed your family the best, but don't mind burning a small hole in your pocket, head for Namdhari's Fresh to buy organic fruits and vegetables.
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A WELCOME change from the crowded vegetable markets of Bangalore is a new store called Namdhari's Fresh. As the word "fresh" suggests, it is a store where one can pick up farm fresh vegetables and fruits.
Heralding a new concept in Bangalore, where the producer is directly selling to the customer, Namdhari's Fresh is the latest venture from the Namdhari Group, which claims to be the largest indigenous manufacturer of hybrid seeds.
Walk into the store, in Indiranagar, and fruits and vegetables of a better quality than what one finds elsewhere in the City catch your eye. "The reason is that the packaging of these vegetables is done in air-conditioned environs and we use a cold room for storing them. Temperatures are maintained at 10 degrees in the room and the rack where the vegetables are placed for sale," explains Arti Ganesh, manager of the store. The cool temperature ensures that the vegetables have a longer shelf life and stay fresh for almost seven to 12 days. Ms. Ganesh adds that the vegetables are stored in an "uninterrupted cold chain" from the time they are harvested, till they reach the consumer. Refrigerated trucks are used to transport the vegetables and fruits, which are then graded in pre-cooling rooms, and then stored in cold rooms.
Satnam Singh, who handles the retail store, assures us that all vegetables and fruits sold at the Namdhari's Fresh are of export quality. While the store does sell some fruits not grown by it, it only vouches for the quality of its own produce.
On the shelf, one can find Indian vegetables such as ladiesfinger, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, brinjal (different varieties), bird-eye chillies, capsicums (in all colours), and the like. Fruits such as pineapples, custard apples, Chinese and Australian pears, kiwi fruit, watermelons, Japanese melons, muskmelons, cantaloupes, grapes, Californian plums, and so on are also available.
The store specialises in exotic vegetables grown on its farm in Bidadi. These include baby corn, asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, sugar peas, lettuce, and so on. "Our baby corn is 100 per cent organic and we have a certificate for that. Other vegetables are 60 to 70 per cent organic," assures Ms. Ganesh. "Any pesticide, when applied will leave behind a residue. When tested for the residue value, our crops will test really low. We follow the European Council Regulations strictly and wait for the residue levels to fall before we harvest the crop."
But as all good things come at a price, these high quality vegetables are priced higher than those in regular markets. "Our costs are higher to ensure the quality," says Ms. Ganesh.
The store also stocks other goodies such as juices, biscuits, canned goods, honey, milk products, etc. There are plans to introduce organic chickpeas and basmati rice in the near future.
Namdhari's Fresh can be contacted on 4152909/2910.
TINA GARG
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Delhi
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