Spike in sale of dates this Ramzan
Posted on: 06/Jul/2015 11:32:56 AM
This Ramadan has seen a spike in demand for dates. Dates are now available in many varieties. Sold mainly in dry fruit shops located in Muthiah Mudali Street and Govindappa Naicken Street in Parrys, shopkeepers say that sales have increased this Ramzan, compared to other years, over 200%.
‘With the growing demand for dates, shop owners in the city are importing various varieties of the fruit... The prices pick up just before the start of Ramzan. This year the sales have seen a 200% increase in the market’, said one shopkeeper in Govindappa Naicken Street.
‘Iranian dates are soft and last for 15 days while dates from Saudi Arabia stay fresh for a longer period. Medjool dates are bigger in size and cost 1,000 a kilo... Sale of cinnamon, cloves, jeera, pepper and spices also increase as they are used for the traditional kanji and other preparations’, said another wholesaler from Sowcarpet.
According to sellers, sugar free dates for diabetics, come from South Africa, and are the costliest at Rs. 2400/kg. Popular ‘Ajwah’ dates from Saudi Arabia cost around Rs. 1050 for 400 grams. Dates from different places differ in taste, colour and quality. The cheaper ones are ‘Surfy’ dates from Iraq, ‘Sukry’ dates from Saudi Arabia and ‘Kalmi’ dates from Madina. These would sell between Rs. 400 and Rs. 800 per kg.
