Fresh veggies, more than you bargained for

Health and quality conscious Bangaloreans may soon get first class hygiene, and clean vegetables and fruits in neat packets. If this proposal conceived becomes a reality, consumers need not worry about quality of vegetables and fruits. It will also enable consumers to buy vegetables and fruits at even 6 in the morning.

Last week, a 15-member team of the Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society Limited (Hopcoms) undertook a six-day tour of New Delhi and Kashmir to study the distribution of vegetables and fruits. “We are impressed with the supply chain model of the Safal Daily Fresh, a unit of the National Dairy Development Board in the capital,’’ said BV Chikkanna, president, Hopcoms.

According to sources, the Hopcoms management will soon send a proposal for following the Safal Daily Fresh supply chain model in Bangalore. The proposal is also expected to get the nod within a few weeks.

“Safal Daily Fresh has successfully implemented this model in New Delhi. I found that customers are happy with the fruits and vegetables supplied in packets,’’ added Chikkanna.

The model facilitates supply of vegetables and fruits in packets as per consumers’ requirement.  For example, vegetables and fruits will be supplied in packets of 5kg, 2kg, 1kg and 500grams. “The USP of this model is that the maximum retail price (MRP) of the vegetables and fruits will be printed on packets. So, it will prevent the Hopcoms staff from charging extra. It will also benefit farmers who deserve a fair income. since there will be no middlemen. It will also avoid consumers trying to bargain with people,’’ said the Hopcoms president.

To introduce this facility, the Hopcoms needs one or two acres of land in Bangalore since it cannot take up development work at its premises due to legal constraints. “We are requesting the government to allocate a few acres of land at four different locations in Bangalore to implement the model in the city. Our objective is to provide quality vegetables and fruits to consumers.

We have also requested the BDA and BBMP to allocate space to open Hopcoms outlets as part the expansion programme,’’ he said.

The Hopcoms team also visited various apple orchards in Kashmir to find out ways and means to get apples at a cheaper price. “We met many people who own apple orchards in Kashmir.

They have advised us to contact them after one month since the harvest season is more than one month away,’’ the Chikkanna said.

Hopcoms has, moreover, embarked on renovation of its outlets at various locations in the city. “As of now, we have completed the renovation of 40 outlets. We are taking up renovation work wherever it is necessary. We will renovate around 40 more outlets as early as possible,’’ said S Shanmugappa, managing director, Hopcoms.