5 March, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The Postavy District Executive Committee has put the harvesting of edible snails up for auction. The bidding will take place on April 3, the District Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The subject of sale is the right to harvest or purchase the mollusc within the territory of the Postavy District. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has calculated that the commercial stock of snails in the district amounts to 44 tonnes and has concluded that 21.6 tonnes of snails can be harvested annually without harm to the environment. The starting price of the lot is set at 50 base units. The term for granting the right to harvest or purchase snails is at least three years. Applications for the auction are accepted until March 29. According to specialists of the District Executive Committee, there is interest in the auction from potential buyers. The auction for the right to harvest edible snails in the Postavy District will be the second in the region. The Chashniki District was the pioneer in selling snails. Here, the buyer paid Br7.5 million for the opportunity to harvest 13.5 tonnes of snails, which is five times the initially set price. Belarusian edible snails are typically exported to Europe. Those who have had the chance to try such snails claim that this delicacy tastes like greens. However, the process of preparing escargots, as the French call this exquisite dish, requires considerable patience from the cook, as before boiling the snail in white wine and serving it with sauce, its intestines must be cleaned, which takes up to two weeks. Moreover, the snail must be washed daily in running water. Edible snail meat contains one-third more protein than chicken eggs and is cholesterol-free. Edible snails are also a raw material for the pharmaceutical industry, used to make medicines for diabetes, but they are most famous as an aphrodisiac and are recommended for men to enhance potency. -0-

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