Tomato prices plunged to ₹10 a kg in the wholesale market in Erode on Thursday (July 9, 2026) following a sharp increase in supplies, bringing relief to consumers after weeks of elevated prices.
Traders at the Nethaji Daily Vegetable and Fruit Market on the V.O.C. Ground said supplies from Andhra Pradesh increased to about five tonnes on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) and Thursday, up from two to three tonnes in the previous few days. Tomatoes also continued to arrive from Thalavadi, Dharmapuri, and Karnataka. The higher arrivals, attributed to fresh harvesting in producing regions, led to a steep fall in prices.
After hovering around ₹30 a kg earlier this week, the wholesale price dropped to ₹7-₹10 a kg on Thursday. Retail prices also declined to ₹15-₹25 a kg, depending on the quality. Tomatoes were sold at ₹25-₹55 a kg through much of June, the wholesalers said. However, with fresh supplies from local cultivation and neighbouring regions, prices had eased considerably.
A 25-kg box of tomatoes was now sold for up to ₹250 in the wholesale market, they added. However, part of the unsold stock had to be discarded because tomatoes have a short shelf life and the sudden increase in supplies outpaced demand. Traders expected supplies to rise further over the next few days, which could keep prices under pressure. However, they cautioned that a weaker-than-normal monsoon, if El Nino conditions affected rainfall, could damage crops and send prices up again. “If rainfall remains erratic, the crop could be affected and prices may rise again,” a wholesaler said.
Published - July 09, 2026 06:44 pm IST