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


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