Mangaluru, (DHNS): ‘Grameena Santhe’, an exhibition and sale of organic products, organised by Grammena Okkuta, Mangaluru, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana Hall went on till Sunday. Jyesthalakshmi, who had organic products, said that the Madhya Pradesh-based firm ‘Grass Peel’ has introduced a toothbrush made out of bamboo, which is eco-friendly. The company has also launched wood-free pencil, both of which were on sale at the expo. ‘Jack World’, a firm from Alappuzha, featured jackfruit products such as cake, cutlet, halwa, and squash. A stall by Santosh Bhandarkar from Karkala offered traditional jackfruit cake, chips, pickle and pappadam. Another Kerala based company ‘Chikkoo’s Ice cream’ had a variety of ice creams made out of chikkoo, tender coconut, guava, jackfruit and palm fruit.

There were handloom and other ornamental products in the expo. A stall belonging to ‘Namma Angadi’, a brand of ‘Namma Bhoomi’ from Hattiyangadi, Kundapur, featured items like cloth handbags, handmade books, wall hangings, bamboo earrings and clay ornaments prepared by the children of ‘Namma Bhoomi’. Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said that the tradition of preparing organic eatables is reducing in urban areas. “There is a need to create an atmosphere to revive traditional food. We have to support organic farming and food. I hope exhibitions like ‘Grameena Santhe’ will create awareness about village food, among urban people,” he said. Director General of Police Arun Chakravarthi said that the government should support cottage industries preparing organic products.