Pineapple prices in Vazhakulam fall about 40% due to slack demand from major hubs

KOCHI: Prices of pineapple from Vazhakulam in Ernakulam district, a town in Kerala known as ‘ pineapple city’, have fallen about 40% this season due to slack demand from major consuming hubs such as Delhi and Mumbai as well as surplus production.

Widespread rain in western and northern regions of India has crimped demand for Vazhakulam pineapple, which has got a geographical indication (GI) tag, and their prices have shrunk to Rs16-17 per kg from a level of Rs 25-30 per kg last year, traders said.

“We are selling at Rs 22 per kg in Ahmedabad. The shipping charges from here are Rs 7 per kg. Even if we buy at Rs15 from growers there is no profit for us,” said Alex Joseph, a pineapple trader. “The growers are now demanding more than that rate.” Pineapple production has been good this season, but growers said the cost of production has gone up and that unless they get a price of around Rs20 per kg, it is not profitable for them.

Daily loads from Vazhakulam near Kochi have come down to 100-200 tonne from 500 tonne earlier, traders said. They said Kerala produces 3-3.25 lakh tonne of pineapples and, along with West Bengal and north eastern states, accounts for a significant share of the production of the fruit in the country. Kerala grows the Mauritius variety of pineapple that goes as fresh fruit for use as pulp, while other states mostly grow the Kew variety, which is more suitable for making juice.