As the winter season intensifies, the sale of dry fruits have witnessed a surge, however the quantum of seasonal up is not at par with the previous year owing to a relatively higher tide in the commodity price.
The sale of almond, pistachio, groundnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, pine nuts and dates had considerably increased during the current week, said a dry fruit seller in Aabpara Market. He, however, said the shopkeepers were worried over high prices of the dry fruits. Not only their profit margin has shrunk, but the number of customers as compared to last year has dwindled, he added.
Gul Zaman, a Super Market shopkeeper, said, “Last year, almonds were priced at Rs 600 per kilogramme in the peak season, but this year they are available at about Rs 1,000 at the onset of winter.”
Consumers at Markaz G-9 Karachi Company said the dried fruits were out of the reach of common people due to their high prices. It had even become difficult for them to enjoy munching peanuts, which used to be popular pastime in winter.
Malik Asghar, a senior citizen, who was at I-10 Markaz for shopping, said that the prices of dried fruits were comparatively higher this year. The people having reasonable income were also finding it difficult to buy fruits, he added.
“Now we cannot even enjoy the winter season properly. Pinenuts are being sold at around Rs 2,400 per kilogram, which even a middle class salaried person cannot think to buy,” said Nafees, while haggling with a shopkeeper at a G-7 Market.