With an early arrival of custard apples in Karimnagar, one can find vendors selling cart-filled of delicious, pulpy fruits in every thoroughfare.
But, this sweet fruit has turned sour for custard apple-lovers due to high prices. Reason being this year, the yield of the fruit was quite low compared to previous year, following the drought-like conditions in the State.
A basket full of custard apples used to be sold at Rs.50 for 50 pieces. Now, the same number of custard apples cost from Rs. 300 and above.
“The custard apple contains high nutritional values with Vitamin A, potassium and magnesium, etc. and it is good for health. I don’t miss these sweet custard apples during this season,” says Vishwa Prakash, a lecturer in a private engineering college. Though, the fruit is bit costly, it would come only once in a year and I am tempted to eat the delicious fruit, he added.
The custard apples are being sold along the roadsides in Karimnagar apart from the State highways in the district. The fruit-sellers say that the arrival of custard apples would pick up in near future.