Inspiring story behind HB Organic Bangalore Blue Grapes

I wanted to tell you the story about Manjunath, the farmer growing our GI Tagged Organic Bangalore Blue Grapes

Manjunath comes from Ramchandrapura Village in Chikkaballapur. After nearly 20 years in the technology and corporate world, he moved into agriculture with a simple belief:

“Knowledge has value only when it helps solve real problems in our communities.”

Manjunath has a physical disability and moves around his farm on a three-wheeler. In all the time I have known him, I have never once heard him complain about his disability. He simply gets on with the work, moving through the farm, caring for his crops and remaining deeply involved in everything he grows.

In 2019, he began farming with the purpose of growing safe, natural food and helping people reconnect with where their food comes from.

COVID-19 strengthened this conviction.

“The biggest lesson I took from COVID was that food and health are our greatest security. Organic food is the ultimate currency,” he says.

Manjunath believes we cannot survive by constantly working against nature. We must protect the soil, water and biodiversity that sustain us.

One of the traditional varieties he is working to preserve is the Bangalore Blue grape.

Bangalore Blue is a traditional grape variety of Karnataka and has held a Geographical Indication, or GI, tag since 2013. It is known for its deep purple colour, distinctive aroma and unique sweet-tart flavour.

It is also a “slip-skin” grape, which means the skin separates easily from the pulp when you bite into it. It can be enjoyed fresh or used to make juice and jam.

You may notice a thin white coating on these dark grapes. This is sometimes mistaken for pesticide residue. It is actually a natural waxy layer called “bloom”, produced by the grape itself to protect the fruit and reduce moisture loss. It is especially visible because of the grape’s dark colour.

For Manjunath, growing Bangalore Blue is about much more than producing grapes. It is about preserving a traditional Karnataka variety, showing that farming can work with nature and helping families reconnect with their food.

His journey from the corporate world to building and managing an organic farm is one I deeply admire.

The current harvest is now available at Healthy Buddha. The grapes are sweet, with a gentle tartness and the distinctive aroma that makes Bangalore Blue so special.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YO2eBz6JsTE 

Do try them while they are in season at healthy buddha.

Warmly,

Gautham

Founder, Healthy Buddha