Pineapple prices have risen by almost 60% as compared to the same period last year due to increased demand from upcountry buyers.
Farmers are holding back their supplies for meeting the increased demand during Ramadan, pushing down arrivals in terminal markets by almost half. Ripening of the fruit is delayed by late spraying of hormones which helps farmers earn more, officials at the Pineapple Farmers Association of Vazhakulam told FE.
Farm gate prices in Vazhakulam (40 kms from Kochi), the heartland of pineapple trade in Kerala has touched Rs 20 per kg, as against Rs 8-12 a year ago, K Sasikumar, managing director of Nadukkara Agro Processing Company Limited (NAPCL) told FE.
Prices are expected to rise more as inquiries for meeting the festival demand is regularly coming into the market, he added.
The daily arrivals at terminal market is less than 5 tonne as buyers are procuring directly from the farm due to intense competitions, sources from The Pineapple Farmers Association said.
On Wednesday, green and ripe pineapple fruits were quoted at Rs 18 per kg as against Rs 22 for ripe on June Monday.
On the same day, year ago, prices stood at Rs 10 per kg for green and Rs 15 per kg for ripe fruits, traders said. The price differential of green and ripe fruits depends on the origin of buyers and their needs.
Kerala produces more than three lakh tonne of pineapples annually. Some North East states and Karnataka also produce the fruit and in the peak production season prices tend to drop sharply due to lack of marketing channels. The finest quality ?Mauritius Pineapple? comes from Kerala.
The produce of Kerala is very much in demand as a fresh fruit throughout India and also in foreign countries because it is considered the best in quality, sweetness and has good flavour.