Messages to boycott fruit going viral on social media

KARACHI: Reacting to the soaring prices of fruits in Ramazan, a movement has been launched on social media asking for a three-day boycott of fruits in order to control the artificially created price hike by fruit sellers.

The message says, “Consumer rights group across Pakistan have requested people *Not to Buy Fruits on June 2, 3 & 4 2017* as protest against exorbitant price hike since start of Ramzan Shareef. 3 day boycott will dent the seller for weekend premium price sale when most consumer does the weekly grocerry for household. It may sound tough but only YOU as consumer can force the seller to be on knees. You too have a duty towards society and your fellow country men, make a wise choice be active part of the campaign. Share with your family & friends across all groups in Pakistan.”

Another message started circulating in response to the previous message saying that fruit sellers should not be boycotted and the ‘logistics’ of the fruit market should be understood by public.

The message says,” Forwarded as received… Like every year again the messages of boycotting fruit is going viral. Instead of supporting these things without thinking we should at least understand the logistics of the fruit market. Farms are owned by landlords who control the market. Fruits are picked a few weeks before they reach the consumer. During this time the landlord sells it at his price to the middle man who has to buy it at a certain price. The middle man transports it to the cities and sells it to the wholeseller at His price. The whole seller sorts and grades it and sells it to the retailer who is in essence a poor pushcart vendor or shop keeper. The price which the consumer purchases fruit is set by the landlord 2 weeks ago and others have invested a lot to bring this fruit to cities. If we the consumers boycott fruit the loss will be of a poor retailer who has already invested money to purchase this fruit for you. The real culprit, the landlord has already got his price and is sitting calmly. The poor retailer who has 10 kgs of fruit to sell will lose his meagre earnings. This poor retailer earns 200 or 300 rupees a day and your boycott will kill his family. Please think before supporting such thoughtless campaigns. Thanks.”

These messages started circulating on WhatsApp late on Wednesday night and urged the readers to boycott fruit for at least three days so that the prices could be brought under control.

In Ramazan, fruit/ vegetable vendors tend to increase prices of regular food items. However, some sellers claim the rise in prices is not man-made but natural since the demand of fruit and vegetables increases exorbitantly.