Consumerfeds vegetable fairs a big hit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The turnover in Consumerfed’s cooperative vegetable fairs, that was opened recently in various places across the state to control the spiralling prices in the open market, have surpassed `1 crore. “The intervention has resulted in a consumer saving of Rs 40 lakh according to estimates,” said Consumerfed president Joy Thomas and Managing Director Dr Riji G Nair.Consumerfed has started as many as 319 vegetable fairs in various parts of the state at a time when the price of vegetables were soaring in the open market.  The initiative had an impact on the prices in the open market and caused it to come down,it is claimed. Consumerfed has not increased the prices in spite of the problems on account of issues related to Mullaperiyar.  Even when prices of some vegetables were at a higher end in the production centres, Consumerfed did not increase the rates. The fairs sell 15 vegetables at discounts varying from 15 to 50 percent.  Prices of items such as tomato, potato, and onion were slashed thrice in the fairs so far. The fairs would be open till December 24.