Drop in the arrival of tomatoes has led to an increase in wholesale price at the Nethaji Daily Vegetable and Fruit Market in Erode in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.
With continuous rain damaging crops and limiting the flow of tomatoes to wholesale markets, prices climbed to ₹65 a kg in the city on Saturday (November 22, 2025).
More than 720 shops operate at the Nethaji Daily Vegetable and Fruit Market at V.O.C. Park Ground. Typically, over 3,500 boxes — each weighing 15 kg — arrive daily from Thalavadi, Dharmapuri, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. But traders said arrivals have fallen sharply over the past month, resulting in a steep price increase.
“As the monsoon intensified and rain increased in the production areas, harvesting was affected, causing a drastic reduction in supply,” a trader said, adding that tomato prices have been rising steadily for the past two to three weeks.
While premium-quality tomatoes were sold for ₹60–₹65 a kg, mid-grade produce fetched ₹45–₹50 a kg. Traders said the poor quality of the consignment has forced them to sell stocks quickly without holding them.
The price hike has directly impacted consumers, with retail rates ranging from ₹60 to ₹80 a kg across the district. “It is common during the rainy season for tomato arrivals to drop in the market,” said V. Santhi of Periyar Nagar. “Tomatoes are being harvested even before they fully ripen or turn red,” she added.
Consumers also pointed out the wide variation in quality and price this month. A trader noted that prices are likely to rise further due to the wedding season and the continued fall in arrivals.
Published – November 22, 2025 07:30 pm IST
