Tomato prices have sky-rocketed in the city, pinching consumers’ pockets

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 17, 2017: Tomato prices drastically shot up in DK over the past three weeks, consumers are really feeling the inflated prices. The retail price of tomato crossed Rs 80 per kg, the highest in recent times. On  July 16,Sunday tomato was selling at Rs 70 per kg. The rate was about Rs 10 to Rs 15 a kg just a month ago.

Traders and growers say that prices of all vegetables will remain firm during the next few days till the areas where the crop is grown receives rain.

A wholesaler, said: "The price rise is too drastic.  There is no shortage it seems and  produce available but nobody is picking them up due to the high retail rates."

The seller gets his stocks from Kolar, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru. He says the landing cost itself is around Rs 67, hence they cannot give retailers for less. "The retailers too have to make a marginal profit and hence they are at a high price,’’ he said. He usually gets a truck load of tomato, which is about 240 crates, each crate having 25kgs of tomato. "Now I get only half a load because there’s no demand,’’ he said.

One retailer at the Central Market said consumers are buying very less quantity than usual due to high price. "When the kitchen staple costs three to four times the usual price, one has to exercise caution to balance the household budget,’’ said a , a housewife at the shop.

Hotels are the worst affected due to price rise. They need to use  tomatoes. For  sambar we can reduce the quantity, but we have to use tomato or the taste will anger the customers, a food out let owner said.