Submitted by: Priyanka Grover

On a Saturday morning we decided to explore fresh organic vegetables & fruits and the vegetable vendor at my apartments suggested Jaivik Mall in Lalbaugh botanical garden. The best way is to reach the Lalbaugh circle and park your car near the HOPCOMs market. Jaivik mall is on the left side on entering the gates to Lalbagh – and does not require an entry ticket.

We were very excited to see the fresh produce which had just come-in and a variety of other organic groceries. The organic produce was mostly from the southern India based brands as well as some in-house brands of Jaivik mall. I was informed by the cashier that all the produce and groceries are bought from government empanelled and certified farmers only. One can choose from seasonal green leafy vegetables like spinach as well as fruits like wood apple & bananas. And the surprising thing is the size and texture of the produce. Fresh supply reaches Jaivik mall on Saturday and Wednesday, so we turned out to be lucky!

The only disappointing thing I felt was when I realise that some cereal & dal packets which were at discounted price had already expired. Additionally some of the packets had insects moving in it and some had stones. So you need to look closely! Buying a branded product might resolve this concern.

Overall it was an educating visit for my senses and for taste buds as well. I loved the fragrance and taste of the huge citron we bought. It was a great success as topping on my grilled vegetable platter at home. I recommend a visit there and for people living in that part of town, it is a great option for regular shopping.

In the pictures below, I have managed to compare some of the vegetables for your reference.

The size is definitely noticeable, larger being inorganic. However look closely for the pink fleshy pods in the organic variety.

The potato size of organic is much smaller, and there is a shine in its thin peel. The organic variety was softer to cut and cooked faster as well.

The organic tomatoes are smaller, more round in shape and the skin is squishy than their counterpart inorganic one. Also the sweet-tangy flavors in the organic ones were very prominent.