Fruit picking

Today I had a fun filled morning with my grand children and daughter in law and not to omit my wife who is partly responsible to pull me out of computer chair. We had been to a fruit farm where we were allowed to pick and buy strawberries at a much subsidized rate.( I am currently spending some holidays in US). I understand that picking and buying fruits like strawberries, apples, pumpkins and peaches during seasonal times in the farm itself is very common and people of all ages look forward to it as a fun filled day. How I wish we could have similar fun and joy times in Indian farms. As far as I know farms around Chennai are let out at week ends for drinking, dancing and…..,. The only time I remember doing any fruit picking was during my school days. I tried to pick some mangoes from a tree by throwing some stones at them and I had to run for my life when the gardener chased me for a good half a kilometer. I escaped his wrath since he was made immobile by a speeding cyclist. Some of the fruit sellers at Chennai do not allow you to pick the fruits from the heap and you have to seek his permission before you start picking the fruits of your choice.
Incidentally I find that many are not in the habit of consuming fruits regularly. One way to have a healthy living is to consume plenty of fruits and reduce the rice content of food.
Gopalan

Gopalan Sir,
I also have heard of this fruit picking in US, where my co-sister narrated some years back, where they picked some apples and got a basket full free...
glad to hear that you had escaped the wrath of that gardener..if you had got permission from him before....you could have avoided that running race..
If you pick the fruits of your choice...then where the 'azhugal' fruits go..(amukki amukki paarthaadhaal vandha vinai.., sometimes)..
i truly accept that we were allowed to pick up fruits and vegetables, before...

sriniketan

Hello sir,

how are you? Happy to note that you are spenging your holidays in US. I love strawberry very much. mmmmmmm I will wait for the day, when I get a chance to pluck fresh, yummy strawberries from the form.

Nice to note that you were a naughty boy

திருட்டு மாங்காய்க்கு தனி ருசி உண்டுதானே??

Gopalan Sir

I enjoyed your narration and felt like picking up fresh fruits from a nice farm. I used to feel this when I go to Delhi crossing Nagpur orange orchards-those fresh santhraas and I wish if the train stops there, I shall get down and pick a basket for my self..

I had this experience of picking fresh grapes the grape vineyards in a village near Madurai when my dad took us and fortunately that vineyard owner happened to be my father's friend..

Have a nice time sir..

Lakshmi

Hello Mr.Gopalan,

We too did some strawberry picking (in Germany) on Saturday. This is my first time (we have cut flowers before). My 3 yr old son was very excited... more than him I was:) He was a bit tired when we took him but he was showing me all the ripe fruits... we'll do it again. This is an amazing experience from all points... children learn to appreciate nature, we get directly from the farm (this one was a bio farm... no pesticides used)and learn how hard the task is. Wish in India too we get such opportunities. I have always enjoyed picking gooseberries, mangoes and guava..

Latha

hi gopalansir,

Have a nice holiday. looks you are enjoying your time.

Would love to have these farms in chennai too.

We have plucked mangoes,guavas,veggies, flowers and even some berries along with our kids sometimes.

During my childhood i could pluck straight corn, veggies, groundnuts, sweet potatoes,jowar, ragi..

The thrill of washing of the dirt and eating the fresh groundnuts is awesome. sure would love my kids to have the same opportunity.

Thanks Sriniketan for feed back. as younsters the thrill was "To steal and Eat".
Nowadays I warn my wife to learn the art of picking by sight and not by palpation of fruits.
Gopalan

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Gopalan Sir,
I also have heard of this fruit picking in US, where my co-sister narrated some years back, where they picked some apples and got a basket full free...

sriniketan

Ms Krishnaamma,
Thanks for the enquiries. Fully agree with your tamil quote.
Gopalan

Ms.Lakshmi,
Nice to hear my narration was good. Even now I ask my brother in law in Nagpur to get me a basketful of oranges when he visits me. I remember about '"chocolate picking" during my school days .I once visited along with my dad the sugar factory at Nellikuppam near Cuddalore. They were also manufacturing apart from sugar sugar candies. We were allowed to pick any number of chocolates and peppermints from the conveyor belts
We were also given few complementary tins of candies.(Parrys).
End resulr was gastric upsets followed by starvation diet for three days.
Gopalan

Hello Ms Latha,
I only wish our dreams of picking different types of fruits come true. Really enjoyable experience when we do that with our children.
Gopalan