Mangalore: When produce from farms keep on arriving in the market, prices start to come down. Local Vegetables (more of small durability) known as perishable have fluctuating prices depending upon stocks on hand in the shops on a given day. Fresh vegetables come at day break in huge loads, and get snapped up by local shopkeepers having smaller (or retail) markets in all corners of the city or suburbs at a premium so that they can sell at higher rates to make their living. Under such supply and demand circumstances, especially Festival days like Shravan or Nag Panchami, and special bubbly days like Independence Day or end of Aati, flowers and unusual vegetables (like Bamboo shoots and sweet cucumbers) have a fast market.

In city market in Mangalore, which is awfully small, narrow and dark, fruits were costlier than perishable vegetables. Local vegetables such as Alasande, Tonde and Mullu Southe are available in plenty on Sunday (Independence Day) and cheaper than flowers and fruits (like plantains, pomegranate and watermelons), but moosambi ruled fair and steady in prices.

Prices of Tomato and Potatoes (somebody has compared them to character actors in films!) have gone up but not beyond affordability. (Rs 12 to 14 a kg). The gourds (sweet and tasteless verities) are absolutely down at Rs 8 to 10 per kg. (how cheaper can they be for taste?). carrots sell at Rs. 34 per kg, while Lady’s fingers (bende) can be had at Rs 16 a kg.
Ramzan has begun and the food items relating to Iftar (dusk) obviously are getting costlier for Muslims. Hindus have to save money to face Gokulashtami, Gowri Puja and Ganesh Chawthi feasts, and each of them have separate Menu. Do not forget Onam feast (Shaadya) for which Hotel Prestige is putting up ad boards well in time for the Aug. 24th event in city.
Almost all kinds of fruits, vegetables, leaves (soppu) and festival flowers are available in plenty now. Choice is yours to fill the bags.