Mahableshwar strawberry awaits its special status

Very soon, you will know whether the ‘Mahabaleshwar’ strawberry you are popping in your mouth is indeed from Mahabaleshwar or not.

Nearly 1,500 strawberry farmers from Mahabaleshwar and surrounding areas have applied for a geographical indication (GI) status for their strawberries. If the GI status is approved, every box of original Mahabaleshwar strawberries will have a hologram assuring you of its authenticity.

According to farmers, the strawberries produced in this region are unique owing to their nutritional value, water and glucose content and the high number of seeds.

According to an intellectual property rights consultant advocate Ganesh Hingmire - who filed the application on behalf of the farmers - this step was necessary after the farmers found out that the strawberries grown in Nashik, Wai, Ahmednagar and Satara were being sold as Mahabaleshwar strawberries.

The farmers received an examination report after the proposal was sent to the Government of India registry of geographical indications (RGI) in Chennai. The RGI has asked them to form a quality control body in order the get the final stamp of approval.
In 2009, 14,000 tonnes of strawberries were cultivated on 2,200 acres of land in and around Mahabaleshwar.

“We have applied for the GI under class 31 as a fresh fruit. By getting the GI, we hope to increase exports, give the farmers legal protection and motivate the farmers,” said Hingmire.

President of the All India Strawberry Growers Association Balasaheb Bhilare said that they are expecting the GI confirmation in three months. “This will ensure that by next season in November 2010, we will be able to brand our strawberries legally,” he said.

With the GI status, the association has decided to make a hologram that will be stuck on every strawberry box produced in this region. “The assurance of quality will translate into an additional Rs10 for every kilogram, but this is not much as the customer cannot be fooled,” said Krishna Bhilare, chairman of the Shreeram Food Processing Coop society.