VALUE-ADDITION -1::

ORGANIC FARM-FRESH VEGETABLES GIVE VALUE-ADDITION

BY P S SUNDAR

This summer tourists can enjoy the unique experience of wandering in organic vegetable fields and dining on the fresh vegetables plucked from these fields, thanks to Gateway Hotel Coonoor launching ‘from the field’ feel to visitors.

“We are growing these vegetables within our campus but inside wire mesh to protect them from the invading battalions of monkeys.  The very fact of wandering within the mesh enclosure gives a unique feel to visitors especially from crowded metros”, Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan told me.

“On the one hand, this in-house farming reduces our procurement cost of vegetables; on the other, as we use them in our kitchen, guests are assured of organic farm-fresh vegetables in their food”, he explained.

“Tourists gain value-addition when they see our fields flushed with carrots, beetroot, turnips, cabbage (green, violet and Chinese), radish, potato, tomato, lettuce, greens, garlic, beans, spinach, and herbs including peppermint, thyme, lemongrass and rosemary”, added Housekeeping Manager R Nagaraj.

Fruits like peach, plum, passion fruit, custard apple, Nagai, Thavittu and Usi pazham are also grown for direct consumption by guests. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).