http://www.oherald.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1033
HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7 :——Goa's choicest mangoes, the mancurado variety tickled the British palate when the Directorate of Agriculture government of Goa for the first time participated in the International Food Exhibition 2005 (IFF-2005) organized from March 13, to March 16, this year at Excel "Goa's choicest mangoes, the mancurado variety tickled the British palate when the Directorate of Agriculture government of Goa for the first time participated in the International Food Exhibition 2005 (IFF-2005) organized from March 13, to March 16, this year at Excel, London's exhibition centre in the heart of Docklands,London United Kingdom The exhibition is one of the top time food exhibitions in the world and a premier food and drink event in the United Kingdom. Goa's agriculture department, which participated in the event at the request of APEDA, displayed choicest fruit of 192 'mancurado' mangoes in London. The exhibitions have a reputation for facilitating business between buyers and sellers. This exhibition plays a vital role in inviting trade enquiries from importers of western countries. For the exhibition the Agriculture and Process Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), government of India, was allotted stand no NZ-5405 with an area of 150 square metres. At the initial stage the Directorate of Agriculture identified mango trees with healthy bearing of mangoes in Bardez and Pernem talukas. This was done with the help of traditional pluckers cum mango contractors Tato and Dhargalkar from Siolim, Bardez . The consignment was then delivered to Cargo Channels Pvt Ltd., an international freight forwarding agent, Mumbai on March 9 and the same was exported in excellent conditions for exhibition to London on March 10. One exclusive counter was allotted for the display, which was in the first half of the "fresh section" of the stand to facilities maximum attention. The product itself was of the right maturity and well graded size. Every visitor that visited the display and asked questions such, as whether there is distributor in the UK for the fruit and where could they buy these mangoes. In view of this venture theagricuture department will offer technical and other guidance to mango growers or traders who should contact S Vinayak, M Khandeparkar or Girish .Kamat, assistant directors of agriculture, fourth floor Vidhyut Bhavan, Directorate of Agriculture, Panjim 403 001 on phone numbers 2425910/2436851/2226445 (O) or 9422390050/2314900 or 22395813. . -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England