Tomato leads drop in vegetable prices, eases to Rs 60-80 per kg in Mumbai | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The price of tomatoes has reduced to Rs 60-80 per kilo in retail markets, bringing marginal relief from the astronomical high of Rs 160-200 per kg prevalent since June. Retail rates are expected to normalise to Rs 25-30 shortly given that the new crop has started arriving from South India as well as Maharashtra.
Rates of other vegetables have decreased as well, from Rs 100-120 on average in July to Rs 80-100 in August.
“Coriander is available for Rs 10 per bundle, down from Rs 40, and green chillies are selling for Rs 100 per kg not Rs 200 as before,” said a retail vendor in Malad. “Cauliflower, brinjal, lady finger and french beans are all cheaper at Rs 80-100 per kg. Only gavar (cluster beans) and tinda (round gourd) are high at Rs 100-120.”
At APMC Vashi, Friday’s wholesale rate for first quality tomato was Rs 35 and second quality was Rs 25-30 per kg, said APMC director Shankar Pingale. Rates will reduce substantially by September first week, say traders.
But consumers are eager for tomato prices to normalise fully to Rs 25 which is the average cost. A wholesale trader from Byculla Market confirmed, “They will indeed, since many farmers sowed an abundance of tomato after prices began to rise exponentially in May-June. They were eager to reap the profits, and now we have adequate arrivals coming in every day. Also ginger, green chillies and coriander which went off the menu have returned to the table.”
Matunga trader Rohit Kesarwani said, “Tomato sold for Rs 50-60 on Friday. And fresh green peas have started arriving abundantly that are selling for Rs 80-90 kg. New ginger costs Rs 120 kg and old stock is Rs 200. Earlier it was 300-350. However, onion, cabbage and bell pepper have now become expensive.” Onion retail rates have risen to Rs 30-32 up from Rs 22-25 two weeks ago.