Chennai: Fruit prices rise, guava sells at Rs 80 a kg

CHENNAI: With the arrival of the festival season, fruit and flower prices have gone up at the Koyambedu market.

The desi guava, which used to cost anywhere between ₹30 and ₹50 a kilogram, was sold for ₹80 a kilogram – same as the usually pricey apples – at the wholesale market in Koyambedu on Friday. Apples were sold at ₹80–₹120 a kilogram depending on the variety and quality.Neighbourhood shops and grocers sold guava for ₹100-₹120 a kilogram.
Vendors said that next week, the cost is likely to go up to ₹100 a kg at Koyambedu. This means the price at retail markets will increase by at least 20%.
Until last week, the cost of guava was hovering around ₹40-₹60 a kg.
“This is usually the time the fruit is in high demand. People buy it for both Krishna Jayanthi and Ganesh Chaturti. It’s the time the price is at its peak,” said Senthil Kumar, a vendor.
On Friday, a kilogram of pomegranate cost ₹100, chikkus between ₹70-₹80, yellow bananas ₹50 and red bananas and tiny yelakkis ₹70 at the Koyambedu market. In retail stores, they cost ₹10-₹20 extra.
“This week, we were flooded with litchis and plums. While a kilogram of litchi cost ₹180, plums were sold at ₹210,” said Murali N, who owns a shop in the Koyambedu market.
Similarly, the cost of flowers also rose.
On Friday, the cost per foot of almost all stringed flowers such as jasmine, lily, pink nerium, marigold and chrysanthemum were ₹20. Even stringed tulsi cost ₹20 a foot, compared to a larger quantity of the leaves sold in packs at ₹10.
“It may be cheaper to buy flowers in packs and string them at home. A pack of jasmine cost ₹200 and a string would have cost me just ₹10. But I didn’t have time,” said Sarada R, who works for a bank.
The happiest among the vendors were boys who sold artificial peacock feathers. “It’s just ₹20 a pair. Lord Krishna loves it and it will never wither,” said 12-yearold Pandiyan.
“I don’t have school today. I sold more than 200 pairs since morning,” he said smiling happily.
Earlier this month, ahead of Varalakshmi Pooja, the demand for flowers had increased and the price of most flowers increased by up to five times.