DC | Coreena Suares | 3 hours 26 min ago
Hyderabad: The weakening rupee has cast its shadow over imported fruits, vegetables and dry fruits. Several outlets selling imported food items have now doubled rates. For instance a pack of imported cherries that earlier cost Rs 1,000 is now been sold for Rs 2,000. And those who love to relish imported items better get ready to pay extra.
Roasted California almonds, Washington apples, Spanish olives or Mexican jalapenos and complementary food items like high value imported dry fruits and fresh fruits which are purchased by the middle class have turned expensive.
Laxmi Chandra, professor and a resident of Erramanzil, said, “Any food item be it nuts, fruits or anything that has a link to the dollar has seen a price rise in recent weeks, especially after the rupee plunged. Now we pay almost 90 per cent more on each pack. Thankfully, the impact of the weakening rupee is not that severe on supplementary food products like edible oils and pulses, which the city needs to import.”
“A 100-gm pack of California almonds that cost Rs 400 earlier is now being sold for Rs 800. With the doubling of prices, I think we have to do with Indian items,” said Keerthi Reddy, a software engineer.
Rising incomes, dual earning households, increasing exposure to Western lifestyles and international cuisines are some of the factors that are driving the demand for imported food.
Traders also complain that since the last few weeks there is a decline in bookings and enquiries as well. “At present there are not many pre-orders from customers for the forthcoming festive season as they don’t know about their budgets for gifting, Prem Singh, the owner of royal dry fruit store.
“The sharp fall of the rupee has a large impact on our business. If prices are high, who will purchase these products? We are losing customers. Now we have to either cut down on new import orders or hold them back completely until the rupee stabilises. Our concern now is on how to get the present stock sold,” Harish. P, a city trader of dry fruits.
States: Andhra Pradesh
Roasted California almonds, Washington apples, Spanish olives or Mexican jalapenos and complementary food items like high value imported dry fruits and fresh fruits which are purchased by the middle class have turned expensive.
Laxmi Chandra, professor and a resident of Erramanzil, said, “Any food item be it nuts, fruits or anything that has a link to the dollar has seen a price rise in recent weeks, especially after the rupee plunged. Now we pay almost 90 per cent more on each pack. Thankfully, the impact of the weakening rupee is not that severe on supplementary food products like edible oils and pulses, which the city needs to import.”
“A 100-gm pack of California almonds that cost Rs 400 earlier is now being sold for Rs 800. With the doubling of prices, I think we have to do with Indian items,” said Keerthi Reddy, a software engineer.
Rising incomes, dual earning households, increasing exposure to Western lifestyles and international cuisines are some of the factors that are driving the demand for imported food.
Traders also complain that since the last few weeks there is a decline in bookings and enquiries as well. “At present there are not many pre-orders from customers for the forthcoming festive season as they don’t know about their budgets for gifting, Prem Singh, the owner of royal dry fruit store.
“The sharp fall of the rupee has a large impact on our business. If prices are high, who will purchase these products? We are losing customers. Now we have to either cut down on new import orders or hold them back completely until the rupee stabilises. Our concern now is on how to get the present stock sold,” Harish. P, a city trader of dry fruits.
States: Andhra Pradesh
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