Litchi virus fear makes sales bitter

CHANDIGARH: Though the seasonal yield of fruits has received a warm welcome from city residents, litchis have sealed their own sorry fate. Litchi lovers in the city are both perplexed and perturbed to see their favourite fruit turn lethal. Despite the enormous production of the fruit, there aren't many shoppers and the sales have suffered a heavy setback."Every day, I used to purchase 20kg of litchis from the 'mandi', most of which would get sold by early evening. The demand for the fruit has reduced since the past one week, and I can barely sell 10kg a day," informed Ram Kumar, a fruit vendor in Sector 8, Chandigarh.
The regular customers are in constant fear of the deadly litchi virus, and have diverted their attention to other fruits to appease their palate. As a result of this, the rates of litchis have come crashing down from Rs150 per kg last week to Rs100 per kg this week. "Excessive sprinkling of water on litchi causes damage to the fruit and allows the insects and pests to attack the fruit. Our litchis are specially imported from Dehradun, and we sell fresh litchis everyday," said Pappu, owner of Shop 4 of Sector 9, Chandigarh.
With all kinds of buyers in the market, litchis are garnering a mixed response. While some customers are averse to the idea of consuming litchis, some are shopping for litchis cautiously. "I wait for litchi to hit the market so that I can buy truckloads for my grandchildren. I myself taste it before buying, and handpick the fruit to ensure the safety of my grandchildren," told Maninder Singh, a resident of Phase 4, Mohali.
Litchi is a delectable fruit which can be consumed both raw and processed. "Generally, raw litchis are loaded with toxins. It is advisable to grow litchis organically in your homes, and consume it in the form of squash, juice and jam," said Shreya, a dietitian.