Fruit sale dips by 50% in Koyambedu wholesale market

CHENNAI: Make hay while the sun shines had always seemed to work in favour of the fruit vendors at the Koyambedu wholesale market. But not this month.

The fresh spells of summer rains crippled the business for fruit traders who usually make a quick buck during the end of March.

“The recent rains in the city severely impacted business at the market. Sales are hit by 50%. The market has been receiving a steady inflow of commodities adding to the wastage,” said market insiders. “Traders are dumping extra fruits rather than selling it at a throw away price.”

Though sales peaked early in the morning, it steadily fell through the day and impacted the business by 50%. “We received 150 vehicles of fruits. Due to dull sales, over 10-15 tonnes of perishable commodities are wasted every day,” said K Ramesh, a wholesale trader at Koyambedu wholesale market.

Though more fruits are dumped daily, traders did not sell them for a lower price. Traders said that every summer, fruit sales would peak from March mid-week, and the prices surge at least by 30-40%.

“Usually, the demand for seasonal fruits such as watermelon and musk melon spikes when summer begins. But, now we’re dumping them. We hope that the sale would pick up from next month,” averred U Thyagarajan, a semi-wholesale trader at the market.

However, retail traders in the city witnessed brisk sales in fruits business. Prices increased by 1020% when compared to the wholesale market.

K Rajan, a retail vendor at Purasawalkam said, “Sales have been brisk. But, when the weather condition changed, there was dip in business. Now, seasonal fruits are in demand as usual. Since summer has started, we expect the demand to increase from mid-April, and even the rates would spike.”