Navi Mumbai: Tomato prices fall by more than half as supplies increase

While onion prices continue to hit the sky, housewives have something to cheer about as tomato prices have fallen drastically. Good production of the crop in Maharashtra has led to a fall in the prices in both the wholesale and retail markets.

While onion prices continue to hit the sky, housewives have something to cheer about as tomato prices have fallen drastically. Good production of the crop in Maharashtra has led to a fall in the prices in both the wholesale and retail markets.

The price of tomatoes in the APMC wholesale market at Vashi fell to Rs 2-8 a kg on Tuesday, with the normal quality selling for Rs 2-4 a kg and the good quality for Rs 7-8 a kg. In the retail market, good quality tomatoes are selling for a maximum of Rs 15 a kg.

Last week, the wholesale price of average quality tomatoes was Rs 20 a kg and the retail price was Rs 30 to Rs 40 a kg.

Sunil Sanas, a vegetable wholesaler at APMC market, said, “There has been a huge inflow of supplies of late. On Tuesday, more than 40 trucks carrying tomatoes arrived leading to a drastic fall in prices.”

He said, “Tomatoes from Bangalore have stopped coming as they cannot afford to sell at such a low price. We are getting tomatoes from all over Maharashtra including Satara, Shaswad and Solapur.”

The retail market, too, has followed suit. Rakesh Gupta, a vegetable vendor at Vashi, said, “Though onions continue to sell for Rs 50 a kg, there is respite for customers with respect to tomatoes. The price has fallen by more than half since last week. There is a lot of supply in the wholesale market.”