From “Queen Anna” to autumn honey: what attracts the Minsk fair at “Chizhovka Arena”

Seasonal autumn fair at the site near the sports complex "Chizhovka-Arena" pleases Minsk residents with a wealth of fresh harvest, a wide range and affordable prices on October 10. What citizens buy, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency learned.

Traditionally, the highest demand is observed in the “second bread” rows. They buy potatoes mainly in bags. There are popular varieties: “Queen Anne”, “Scarb”, “Manifesto” and “Vectar”. The cost per kilogram varies from 0.8 to 1.6 BYN.

“I took two bags of Queen Anna with my husband,” Elena shared. For us, this is the ideal variety: potatoes are smooth, clean, and when frying, a great golden crust is obtained. And glad that volunteers work right on the site: the guys helped bring heavy nets to the trunk.

Do not lag behind in popularity and other seasonal vegetables, which citizens actively take both for everyday table and for home preservation. Beets are given at 1.5 BYN per kilogram, carrots - from 0.8 to 1.2 BYN, and onions can be bought for 1.4 BYN. For lovers of home lechos and pickles, a rich selection of pepper is presented. Bulgarian reds give 2-4 BYN, and sharp for 6. Tomatoes are also sold for the same sunset. Oblong give for 1 BYN, and round and large for 2. Pulled bright pumpkins and zucchini will cost 1.5-3 BYN.

- I specially came here for small onions for the workpiece and pepper, said Sofia Viktorovna. - I scored another borsch set: juicy beets, dark maroon, sweet carrots. Prices really do not bite, and vegetables look like they were only collected in the morning.

There is abundance in the fruit and berry ranks. Buyers are offered juicy Belarusian apples of popular varieties "Antonovka", "Koshtel" and "Belarusian sweet" at a price of 2 to 2.5 BYN per kg. Sweet pear sells for 3.5 BYN. Fans of berries willingly disassemble lingonberry 13 and cranberries 9 BYN.

- I came to buy fresh apples for my grandchildren, said Vadim, a resident of Chizhovka, with a smile. Children love the Belarusian sweet. It is nice to walk along the rows: fruit can be tasted everywhere, farmers are friendly and willing to advise what is better.

A separate place on the fairground is occupied by beekeepers and gardeners. Natural buckwheat, linden and herbal honey are offered at a price of 10 to 25 BYN per kg. A selection of fruit and berry trees and shrubs is also presented.

At the fair, BRSM volunteers are on duty in branded vests. Their main task is to help the elderly carry heavy bags of vegetables, choose high-quality products or simply name the price if the person does not see well.

- Our volunteers approached the matter with full dedication and quickly extend a helping hand to everyone who needs it, said Angelina Budanova, chief specialist of the Factory District Committee of BRSM NGO. For pensioners, such support is a sign that they are remembered. Today, one grandmother was so moved by the care that she even tried to treat the helper boys with ripe apples from her basket.

The fair at the Chizhovka Arena is open on weekends from 10:00 to 16:00.

Photo by Sergei Mitsevich