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Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: April 25: Did you know that your favourite summer fruit has several avatars and one of them is called Sugar Baby? Yes, it's true. Naamdhari is the top favourite with over 295,750,1040 melons sold every month, followed by the Taiwan water melon with 786. The others include--Black Boy, Sugar Baby and Paras. Of these Navi Mumbaikars seem to prefer Naamdhaari and Sugar Baby. There are around 100 Merchants who do Fruit Business in Navi Mumbai and their target was to sell around five ton of water melons during the summer season but the demand has been stupendous. Thankfully for them, the supply has also been consistent and so far around ten tonnes of water melons have been sold.

Aftab Fruit Company, Muhammad Sharif Fruit Company and Gunni Fruit Companies are the best known fruit companies in Navi Mumbai. "Most of the melons are bought from U.P, Raajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh. There were around 50 to 70 truckloads of melons coming every day", said Incharge of Agriculture Development Market Committee Mrs B.P Devare.

Incidentally, the poor man's lemons--nimbu--rates have also increased. Till last month, you could buy four lemons for one rupee but now you have to pay Rs 5 for three lemons. There are around 20 tonnes of lemons supplied in the Navi Mumbai Market. But the demand is much more. Wholesalers charge take Rs 25 to Rs 30 for per kilo which is more than the normal. "If the stocks don't come in, then the prices are bound to increase", said lemon businessman Sunil Hande.

Hazra Momin


Recipes

Watermelon Shake
1/2 cup sugar syrup
3 cups seeded and cubed watermelon
3 cups coarsely crushed ice
Blend all ingredients until mixture is slushy.
Pour into six 8-ounce glasses.
Makes 6 Servings.

To make sugar syrup
In a small saucepan, combine 3 cups sugar and 1-1/2 cups water.
Cover and let boil over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
Cool and store in refrigerator.

Watermelon Margarita

2 cups seeded watermelon chunks
2 ounces coconut flavored rum
½ cup shredded coconut
Juice from 1 fresh lime
1 cup ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a sugar rimmed glass.