Subsided commodities: Quality fruit hard to find

Shoppers say vendors charging premium prices for low-quality fruit

LAHORE: Shoppers at several Ramazan Bazaars on Saturday complained of poor quality of fruits and vegetables available there.

“Most vendors are selling mixed fruit and vegetable varieties. You will hardly find graded products at stalls. Vendors have displayed sub-standard or second grade fruits and vegetables, but they demand premium-grade prices,” said Rashid, a shopper at Model Town Link Road Ramazan Bazaar.

Another shopper, Kamran, said that quality dates were not available. “Most vendors are offering some mixed dates for Rs120 to Rs135 per kilogramme.

A few of them offer dates in boxes. However, they demand exorbitant prices for these ‘imported’ dates,” he said.

According to the official list, prices of most fruits were stable during the first 10 days of Ramazan, except for peaches, apricots, grapes and mangoes.

The highest raise - 42 per cent – was recorded for peaches. They are selling for Rs164 to 179 per kg in Ramazan Bazaars.

Grapes prices have risen by 20 per cent since the first of Ramazan. Grapes (bedana) were available for Rs120 to Rs125 and red grapes were selling for Rs125 to Rs130. According to the price list, premium-grade plums were available for Rs164 to Rs170 per kg.

Prices of various apricot varieties rose by three to seven per cent during the first 10 days of Ramazan.

Apricot (yellow) are selling for Rs92 to Rs96 a kg, the white variety is going for Rs144 to Rs150 per kg.

Another apricot variety was available for Rs130 to Rs135. Mango (langra) prices rose by 3 per cent. It was selling Rs40 to Rs45 per kg. Sindhri mangos were available for Rs101 to Rs105, dussehri for Rs96 to Rs100 and chaunsa for Rs102 to Rs106 per kg.

Prices of seasonal fruits remained stable. According to the price list, apple (kala kolo) were available for Rs130 to Rs135 per kg. Imported apples from New Zealand and China were available for Rs240 to Rs250 and Rs173 to Rs180 per kg, respectively.

Premium quality bananas were available for Rs87 to Rs90. A second-grade variety was selling for Rs60 to Rs62 in Ramazan Bazaars.

Aseel dates were selling for Rs120 to Rs125 per kg, Iranian dates for Rs147 to Rs153 and Iraqi dates for Rs106 to Rs110 per kg.

Falsa was available for Rs96 to Rs100, Sweet potatoes for Rs30 to Rs32 per kg, melon for Rs38 to Rs40 per kg and water melons for Rs16 to Rs17.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2016.