Spike in prices of fruits, veggies pinch customers

Mangaluru: While a double-digit spike in the vegetable prices has pushed the wholesale price-based inflation to 0.79 per cent in May, rising prices of vegetables and fruits are burning a hole in buyer's pocket.
Vegetable and fruit prices have shot up by 20-40% in the last two weeks in the market. Traders blame poor supply and the holy month of Ramzan for the sudden hike in prices.Onion is the only commodity which isn't bringing tears to consumers with it being priced Rs 16 per kg.
Tomatoes are priced at Rs 65 to Rs 75, beans at Rs 80 to Rs 125, lady's finger Rs 60, cabbage Rs 40 and potatoes Rs 26 to Rs 31. Merchants say excessive rain damaging crops in some parts and dry spell in other parts is the reason behind this price hike.
Central Market merchant David D'Souza says: The prices of many vegetables have gone up though not many functions are happening due to excessive rains in Chikkamagaluru which has resulted in crop loss.
The price of tomato which was Rs 40 per kg last month has gone up to Rs 65 to Rs 75 in the retail outlets.
The price of beans varies across retail and super markets. While the wholesale rate of beans are at Rs 80, its retailing at Rs 90 to Rs 125 depending upon the place from where the beans are purchased.
Hoteliers are also a worried lot. "We don't have any other option than to accept it like we do when there is a seasonal variation,'' a hotelier averred. Homemaker Sunitha from Valencia said, "Looking at the prices of vegetables and fruits I now buy them in small quantities. Though it means that I have to visit the stores twice or thrice a week, but it does not pinch that much when small quantities are consumed without getting wasted.
Fruits have seen a significant rise in prices by at least 25%. Washington red apples retailing at Rs 150 per kg last week is now selling at Rs 200 a kg. Bananas too are pricey. The popular 'kadali' variety which was selling at Rs 60 per kg is now retailing Rs 70 to Rs 75 per kg.