Soft drinks steal the thunder from green coconut, watermelon, and sugarcane juices

It is summertime and people go in for cold drinks to fight off the heat and, even though the markets are flooded with natural drinks like green coconut and watermelon, sugarcane and cucumber juices, many go in for cheaper and sugary soft drinks.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 31 March 2016.

The comparatively high cost of natural drinks compared to soft drinks acts as a deterrent and the customers prefer soft drinks even though the experts believe that consumption of natural drinks is a healthier option. The reason is that natural drinks and fruits help to not only control dehydration but watermelon and green coconut water provides carbohydrate to the body apart from controlling body temperature during summer.
Moreover, the fruits are particularly good for gastric patients and provide calories and fulfill the nutritive requirements of the body. But the market of traditional drinks has been affected with the invasion of various soft drinks. An example is the Masala soda with different flavors that one can get at Rs 5 for a glass.
Against this, watermelon sells for Rs 30 to Rs 40 a kg, the price of green coconut varies from Rs 20 to Rs 25 a piece depending on size and a glass of sugarcane juice costs Rs 10. Last year, green coconut was available at Rs 15 to 20 a piece.
The high cost is attributed to decrease in the production of green coconut in Ganjam district. To add to the problems, extensive green coconut belts of Gopalpur and Chamakhandi have been destroyed by industrialization - a company had acquired over 3,500 acres about two decades ago to set up a steel plant.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi rolls out the red carpet (satire)

Moody’s cleanliness drive - free soap for all children (satire)

Lord Shiva cannot relate to today’s Shivaratri (satire)


Teenage girl jumps off moving bus in Mehsana to avoid molestation

Transgender candidate to contest against Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal polls

Japan kills 333 whales in its latest Antarctic hunt - the figure was 252 whales in 2014


ISIS claims responsibility for Brussels attack and warns Britain of more severe attacks

Tragedy in chicken eating contest in Indonesia - a competitor chokes to death

Terror attack in Ankara kills at least 37 - one suicide bomber was a 22-year-old woman

Star Wars Episode VIII to get delayed till December 2017

Antonio Banderas gifted a pair of monkeys to Salma Hayek on her birthday

Frieda Pinto talks about 'Jungle Book - Origins'