Page 36 - Seniorstoday April 2022 Issue
P. 36
the Sindh region of Pakistan due to this Valencia Pride
mango. Traders and growers’ credit
Sindhri with an excellent shelf life and
delightful sweetness. It is also grown in
Rahim Yar Khan and Multan regions of
Pakistan.
Tommy Atkins
Valencia Pride mango is a Haden
seedling selected and named in Florida in
1941. These mangoes have an unrivalled
sweet, aromatic and floral flavour. It
has a longer, narrower shape than most
mangoes and does not have a green hue.
The flesh is sweet, aromatic, firm, and
fibreless.
Tommy Atkins is one of the most
commonly sold mangoes in the world. Recent concerns with eating and
Although generally not considered to be growing mangoes
the best in terms of sweetness and flavour While mango is hailed as the king of
it is valued for its very long shelf life. fruits, there is a chance it may come
loaded with toxic chemicals that may
Totapuri do more harm than good. Many fruits
are said to be artificially ripened and
sold off as natural and fresh. Have you
been consuming extra juicy and sweet
mangoes lately? Beware, they might be
chemically ripened. Artificial ripening
of mangoes (using carbide), is on a rise
across India, citing the scarcity of the
product in the market and its increasing
The ‘Totapuri’ mango, or Ginimoothi, demand by consumers.
also goes by many names: Bangalore, Another concern is the high level of
Collector, Kallamai, Kili Mooku, Gilli, pesticides used in farming of the fruit.
Mukku, and Sandersha. A cultivar of Exports of many varieties were put to
Bengaluru, it is referred to as Ginimoothi a halt because of the chemical residue
Maavina Kayi, while the rest of India found on the skin of the fruit. Jute
calls it Totapuri or Bangalora. It literally fruit protection covers act as a barrier
translates to parrot face (gini = parrot, and prevent the pests from destroying
muthi = beak). Totapuri mango skin lacks the crop and are now being offered to
the usual bitter taste of most mango skins farmers. Farmers are now resorting to
or has a very slight bitterness and is more organic ways of farming and are
consumed with the flesh traditionally. reportedly happy with the size, colour
36