-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 3rd Annual Konkan Fruit Fest, Goa - May 6-8, 2005 | | | | Today's Events include Fruit Carving - Decor - Watermelon eating | | Fancy Dress. Check out http://konkanfruit.swiki.net | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The public response to the 3rd KONKAN FRUIT FEST has gone beyond expectations on its very first day. A large number of fruit growers and an even larger number of the fruit eating public visited the venue after the inauguration by His Excellency S.C.Jamir, the Governor of Goa. Even the Governor decided to dispense with the formal speeches and spent his time visiting the "Knowledge Kiosks" set up by three universities, ICAR-Goa, Directorate of Agriculture-Goa and the Botanical Society of Goa[BSG]. At the end of his visit, the Governor spoke to the electronic and print media making a special mention of the student volunteers from KALPVRIKSHA [ meaning, "Tree of Heaven" and refering to the coconut tree in the Konkan region], the Botanical Society's affiliate club in the CARMEL Higher Secondary School, Nuvem-Goa . The fruit fest has gone beyond mangoes and Garcinia [ Bhirand or Kokum]. Information and knowledge acquisition has grabbed centre-stage.
The fruit products like juices, wines, jams and fruit based culinary delights for the competition were judged by a panel of three judges on the first day of the festival. The panel consisted of Mr.Sanjeev Kadkade, Head of Dept, Institute of Hotel Management[ GoI]-Porvorim and Mr. Alphonse Pereira, Principal of Fr. Agnelo's , Institute of Hotel Management . Ms Christina de Souza, Secretary of the Botanical Society of Goa co-ordinated this event and the mango eating competition that once again witnessed the competitive spirit of the Pai Lotlikar family from Caranzalem. Two generations of this family have been very supportive of the BSG[ of which some of them are members] The third generation is getting the right exposure right from infancy. Lumina Lobo from Siolim grabbed the first place for her specfiality Cashew Wine, while Carlos Figueiredo from Santerxeth-Aldona grabbed the other two prizes for his Jamun and Black currant wines. For the pickles , none could better the entry of Ms. Sarita Salgaokar, who also won prizes for her fruit syrup and jam.Preeti Shetye topped the rank for the fruit chutney[ sweet pickle], while Lorraine De Sa[ whose Egg Fruit always attracts attention in the fresh fruit competition] from Tivim took the second spot. Noelyn Afonso, the Secretary of the Vegetarian Society of Goa, won two of the three prizes for fruit dishes and cakes. A smiling Noelyn parted with the fantastic fruit dishes so that the visitors to the fruit fest could sample the taste of things to come. she even cut the cake and passed it round, much to the joy of the organizers and visitors alike. In the sale stalls, the Frugurt[ or fruit yogurts] from D'Souza Biotech, Saligao, has been a runaway success. Half the visitors are walking away with a strawberry, black currant or other fruit yogurt[ curds] and eating it on the banks of the River Mandovi or under the shade of the Raintrees near the GMC Heritage building nearby.One could even see people at the INOX grounds eating yogurt and enjoying the music there.The Goa Horticulture Corporations Tender Coconut dispensing cart and local fruits "Krishi Bazzar" are a big draw. Arolkar's Fruit Products-Kudal has also been drawing crowds to its bottle fruit juices, Sonam Industries-Pilerne has a wide range of fresh fruit ice-creams without artificial flavours. All these items are a success, naturally! Out of the 114 entries, Mr. Shrihari Kurade of Cuncolim-Salcete basketed seven prizes. Mr.Balaji Naik, Mr. Mukund Borkar[ both of Ponda] and Mr.Shailesh Prabhudesai of Margao bagged two prizes each. Other prize winning entries were from Mr.Carlos Figueiredo of Santerxeth-Aldona, Ms. Nirmala R.Khandeparkar of Bordem-Bicholim, , Ms.Lorraine De Sa of Tivim-Bardez, Mr. Prakash Kund of Cuncolim Ms. Nilam Moye of Margao, Mr.Narayan Mandrekar, Mr.Devidas T.Pednekar, Ashok Savaikar, Sandesh G.Sawant, Mr. Madhukar S.Walavalkar and Daulatrao Rane[ all six of Bicholim], and Don Bosco Farm, Sulcorna- Quepem. The organizers are happy at the role played by a very supportive print and visual media in bringing the information to the public. In an increasingly commercialised world, it is nice to know that there is a window of opportunity to promote a good cause through the goodwill of the mass communication media. The Konkan Fruit Fest has been entire publicised gratis up to date, with not a single paid advertisement. We are overwhelmed by the support from the press. Thank you for being an important part of the cause. The Konkan Fruit Fest ends on Sunday, 08 May with a Valedictory functionwith the Chief Secretary doing the honours at 5 P.M. Miguel Braganza Secretary KFF 2005 Miguel Braganza, M. Sc (Agri) President, Botanical Society of Goa S-1, Gracinda Apts., Near Asilo Hospital, Mapusa – Goa. Phone: 2255139, 9822982676 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * G * O * A * N * E * T *** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Make your mother in Goa happy on Mothers' Day. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/expressions/mothersday/ Limited "Mother's Happiness" packages. First come, first serve. -----------------------------------------------------------------------