State owned Farm Fresh outlets do brisk business

Consumers responded enthusiastically to the State government’s opening of 50 more Farm Fresh outlets besides the 42 already in existence. Additional ones were opened at Thuraipakkam, Meenampakkam, Virugampakkam, East and West Tambaram, Villivakkam, Purasaivakkam, Manali, Saidapet and West Mambalam on Wednesday.

Shoppers thronged these stores at AK Samy Nagar, Ayanavaram, Abiramapuram and other areas to avail of fresh produce at reasonable rates. The stalls will sell a maximum of 1 kg and a minimum of half a kg of vegetables per person to ensure that they reached everyone.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s decision to open more of these outlets has come in the aftermath of the havoc caused by the rain that had reduced the inflow of produce to the market and driven up prices of vegetables. They will sell staples such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, ladies fingers, beetroot and brinjal as the 42 permanent ones are dealing with the rest.

Officials from the Public Distribution Department said, “The vegetables are being procured directly from farmers at Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Ooty and Nashik. We will continue sales through these temporary outlets until the prices of vegetables come down in the open markets.”

People rushed to buy vegetables at reasonable rates at the state owned Farm Fresh outlets in the city, which have been doing brisk business, especially after the heavy downpour over the past few days.