City witnesses steep rise in fruit prices during Ramzan

Jaikishen Pandurang,Bhagvan Fruit Corner,Gultekdi,said apart from apples,other fruits that are in demand during this period are pomegranates and bananas that are sold on wholesale basis at Rs 20-25 per kg and Rs 25 per dozen respectively.

Pandurang said people who observe shravan do not have juices and those who are fond of oranges and sweet lime,have it otherwise. “Oranges and sweetlime are priced at Rs 80 to Rs 120 per dozen. They are also available at Rs 50 to Rs 70 per dozen,but they are sour and only fruit juice centres buy them as they can add sugar later on,” he added.

With most of the Muslims who prefer to break roza with dry fruits alongwith fruits,even the sale of dry fruits has spruced up in the past few weeks. An e-commerce professional Shadab Siddiqui said,“There are several religious and traditional reasons attached to the ritual of breaking the fast with fruits and dry fruits. But on practical ground too,it is healthy to break the 14-hour-long fast with raw food.”

Siddiqui and his family break fast with red dates that are being sold this season at Rs 58 to Rs 60 per kg.

This year,the market also saw sale of a few exotic varieties of dates like Jordon Valley and King of Mejol. While Jordon Valley,which,with the branches,are sold at Rs 400 per kg,the price of King of Mejol from Israel is Rs 250 per kg. “The supply to the vendors and retailers has grown twofolds in the month of August,” said Dinesh Jain,a dry fruit wholesaler,Market Yard.

According to Gurudev Datta,another dry fruit wholesaler,the sale of dates is four times more than other dry fruits like walnuts,cashews,pistas and others. “The month of August started on a good note and continues to bless us,” he said.