Pick and pack juicy strawberries at Munnar

Kerala's Munnar, the land of the misty mountains, is rightfully called the Kashmir of the South. Okay, looks like tourists can now enjoy the sight of strawberry farms in Munnar. The Horticrop strawberry farms (under the agricultural department) are situated on the Munnar-Silent Valley road, only 3 kilometres from the Munnar town

You simply cannot get enough of the red, juicy strawberries that are positioned invitingly for the tourists.

They have been put together in batches and have made use of the open precision farming method. A pathway has been arranged to view this beautiful sight. Open precision is a technology of farming used in open spaces.

Two kinds of tissue culture saplings called Nebula and Camrose have been planted here. The magic of strawberry farming in this part is a combination of organic farming resources, open precision, and the favourable Munnar climate. They have visited foreign farms and have designed the farm using a pick and pack model (collecting products).

Strawberries are priced at Rs 600 per kg. The leftovers are turned into strawberry preserves at the farms' factory. One 300 gm bottle will cost Rs 250. Strawberry honey cola which is a combination of honey and strawberry juice is also available at Rs 40. They are also selling strawberry saplings for Rs 100 per piece. You can also buy sunflower seeds from here (10 gms for Rs 50). Various varieties of Horticrop products are available at this pick and park strawberry park.

Apple, orange, tree tomato, avocado, ice cabbage, broccoli, red cabbage and beetroot are also grown here. Strawberry farming developments are conduced under the leadership of Horticrop Idukki district manager, Pameela Vimal Raj. During the off-season, the authorities are planning to showcase strawberries at Poly house. The entry fee is Rs 20. It’s open all days except Sundayfrom 8am to 4:30pm.

Though the season is from October to January, since there was a delay in planting the saplings due to rain, tourists can visit till April-May.

For more information, contact: 7012639671

(Prepared by - CS Anitha, Assistant director, Farm Information Bureau, Thiruvananthapuram - anithacs1@gmail.com)