Summer effect: Beans Rs 90/kg, tomato Rs 45

Koyambedu All Vegetable Markets’ Association Advisor V R Soundararajan said, “The prices of tomato and beans are so high because of lack of rains in the regions where they come from.” Most of the city’s supply comes from Kodaikanal, Ooty, Bengaluru, other parts of Karnataka and some regions of Andhra Pradesh. “Hopefully, the rates of all vegetables will fall by the month of Aadi,” he added.

Summer vegetables like cucumber are priced reasonably Rs 10 per kg and root vegetables such as yam (20), colocasia (14), carrot (20) and so on are on the lower side, too.

D Kala, a vendor in T Nagar, said that most of her customers are opting to buy root vegetables apart from beetroot, cabbage, bitter gourd and nookal because they are comparatively long-lasting in the summer. She said, “Ladiesfinger, greens, brinjal and capsicum don’t stay fresh for long because of the heat. So, people are choosing varieties that will stay fresh even if stored in the fridge for multiple days.”