Onakkazhcha retail outlets

KOCHI: Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) in association with Agriculture department and Horticorp will open ‘Onakkazhcha’ retail outlets for the sale of fresh fruit and vegetable in different parts of the state during the Onam season.A total of 92 panchayat markets will be set up in six districts – Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kannur. Two regional markets will be set up in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. The regional outlet will be inaugurated by Excise Minister K Babu on September 4 at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.The main objective of these markets is to supply fresh fruit and vegetable from the farmers in the state at subsidised price. Along with fruits other products like chips, ‘sarkarapuratty’, ‘palada’ and KERA coconut oil will be sold at subsidised rates.The produce will be procured from 260 farmers’ markets across the state. Cool season crops like cabbage, cauliflower, French beans, potato and onion will be brought from VFPCK markets in Vattavada and Kandhalloor.