On the Hyderabad market, large imported hybrid guavas are pushing aside the smaller local ones. The traditional growers of guavas, who used to bring the fruit from orchards near Chevella, Vikarabad, Zaheerabad and other areas around the city, are being left behind in the process.
A local grower who cultivates organic guavas on the city outskirts, told the Hindu: “In our village, traders are buying from orchards at 15 to 20 rupees (0.20 to 0.27 euros) a kilo. I am trying to sell them directly to customers. But it’s a hard sell.”
Hyderabad is flooded by Taiwanese imports as well as hybrids, and the contrast is quite sharp. The bigger guavas stay green, have a juicy texture, fewer seeds, smaller core and appear fresh longer. Guavas of local origin are smaller, but with a bigger core, more seeds and do not stay as juicy for so long. Their only strong point remaining seems to be their unique taste.
The Taiwanese guavas have been grafted and localised about eight years ago. Taiwanese white is the preferred choice of customers and pink one is preferred by pulp industry, for juices and jams.
