Month-Long Fish Festival Underway at Pure Farmers Market in New York

A month-long fish festival has begun for the fifth time at Pure Farmers Market in Brooklyn, New York. The festival, which started on August 7 at 1242 Liberty Avenue, is offering expatriate Bangladeshis an opportunity to buy a wide variety of familiar fish from Bangladesh’s rivers, ponds and wetlands at comparatively affordable prices.

The festival features hilsa, snakehead, rohu, catla, mrigel, climbing perch, shrimp, kachki, mola and various other local and imported fish. The event will continue every day until August 31, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.

Pure Farmers said that because the fish are imported directly, there are fewer intermediaries in the supply chain. This allows the market to offer fish to customers at comparatively lower prices. Special discounts are also being offered on various types of fish during the festival. In addition, customers buying three to five fish at a time can take advantage of special package deals.

A special selection has also been arranged for hilsa lovers. Several types and brands of hilsa are available at the festival, including Pure & Gel, Chandpur Hilsa and Putul brand hilsa. For those who regularly include hilsa in their meals, the opportunity to purchase the popular fish at comparatively affordable prices has proved particularly attractive.

Expatriate Bangladeshis said that finding fresh fish with the familiar taste of Bangladesh is not always easy in New York. They said they are pleased to have access to a variety of local fish and special price offers at the same location. Many customers are buying several types of fish at once for their families.

A visit to the festival found strong interest among customers in Bangladeshi fish. Hilsa, climbing perch, rohu and mrigel appeared to be particularly popular. The variety of fish, along with the comparatively affordable prices, is attracting shoppers.

Shamsul Haque, Managing Director of Pure Farmers Market, said the fish festival was organized in response to the growing interest and demand among expatriate Bangladeshis for familiar fish from their homeland.

He said the organizers have focused on enabling Bangladeshis living in New York to purchase fresh fish with the familiar taste of Bangladesh at comparatively affordable prices. He also said the festival has received a positive response from customers.