As the temperature in the city soars to 35 degrees Celsius, residents can cool it off with seasonal fruits, arriving in hordes at local markets.
Though exotic imported fruits are available for most part of the year, traders say there is still huge demand for locally-grown seasonal fruits.
Many varieties of mangoes, considered the ‘king of fruits’, have started arriving at Koyambedu wholesale market. Fruit lovers can feast on a minimum of six varieties of luscious mangoes, including the Banganapalli , Imampasand and Peethar . These fruits arrive mostly from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Traders say mangoes and watermelons are the most popular fruits during summer. But fruit lovers may have to wait a little longer for more varieties.
The Koyambedu market receives 30-40 tonnes of mangoes daily, and this may go up to 300 tonnes a day in May.
“There were times when Chennai would get up to 800 tonnes of mangoes daily. Now, much of the Vijayawada mangoes are diverted to other markets,” says S. Srinivasan, president of Koyambedu Wholesale Fruits Commission Agents Association.
Chennai residents mostly consume mangoes from Salem, Tiruttani and Tirupati.
Banganapalli mangoes are priced at Rs. 60-Rs. 100 a kg now, but the rate is expected to drop to Rs. 25-Rs. 50 a kg, over the next few days, when more of the succulent fruits arrive locally.
However, mangoes may not be as cheap as last year as only 50 per cent of the yields are expected to reach markets owing to poor rainfall.
Different hybrid varieties of watermelon, such as Kiran, Vishal and Mithila, are also invading the market apart from 100 tonnes of muskmelons, sathukudi (sweet lime) and jackfruit.
While watermelons are sold for Rs. 7 to Rs. 12 a kg in the wholesale market, oranges are available for Rs. 25-Rs. 40 a kg. Pomegranates are expensive, however, with a kg selling at Rs. 150-Rs. 200 in the retail market.
