Legit.ng weekly price check: Fruit sellers in popular Lagos market speak on low sales, poor market condition

- There are benefits attached to the consumption of fruits daily which makes it a lucrative business in Nigeria

- The sellers in recent times are faced with supply issues, patronage and worsening market condition occasioned by the pandemic

- This week, Legit.ng visited the market and found out from traders the cost price of fruits that are in season and the ones that are not

- According to them, the availability of farm produce has been one major problem they are faced with daily in the market

In Nigeria, the availability of farm produces influences to a large extent their affordability and the pace of businesses in major markets across the state.

The three major factors that affect supply of farm produce positively and negatively are the seasonal factors, weather condition and the transportation system.

This period, there are farm produce that are in season and are supplied in large quantities to the market due to bountiful harvest but fruit sellers informed Legit.ng that there are others that are supplied in low quantity due to seasonal changes. They attributed their level of supply of the produce to high cost of transportation and the security challenges in the country especially on major highways.

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In view of the above, Legit.ng made a list of goods that are in season and the ones that are not in season and found out from traders the cost of purchase and cost price of the items.

PAWPAW

Pawpaw is one fruit that is in season now. Presently at the market, the supply of pawpaw is very high compared to other fruits. According to sellers', pawpaw is very affordable, which makes it one item in the market that one can make good profit from this period.

It is sold in dozen; the size of the pawpaw as well as the market visited determines the cost of purchase and cost price. A dozen ranges from N1,500, N2,000, N2,500, N3,000, 5,000, N10,000 and even N12,000, sellers revealed.

It can be purchased at major markets like Jakande market, Ketu and Mile 12 international market, Mile 12, Lagos.

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WATERMELON

Watermelon is one fruit that contains more nutrient than any other fruit or vegetable. It would be in large supply by October but presently, traders revealed that the cost of purchase of watermelon is high due to the high cost of transportation and level of supply.

Depending on the size and the market visited this period, a dozen of watermelon can be purchased N5,000, N6,000 and N8,000 upwards; depending on its size and availability.

ORANGE

Orange is another fruits this period whose cost of purchase is very encouraging, fruit sellers revealed.

At Jakande market, Ketu, Lagos, the cost of purchase for the fruit varies on the size of the orange as well as the size of the basket.

Sellers offer the cost of purchase by 50 pieces. 50 pieces of small-sized oranges are sold from N1,200 while 50 pieces of big-sized oranges are sold from N1,500 upwards.

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LEMON

Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. At the market, the supply is very low as it was revealed by sellers that its high cost of purchase is due to high cost of transportation, seasonal factors and the pandemic.

We have the ones that are imported from other countries and the local ones. The imported ones are very expensive same with the local ones.

A small basket of the local lemon is sold from N2,000, N2,500 upwards while small basket of imported ones are sold from N4,000 upwards.

GARDEN EGG

Garden egg is one fruit that is popular in southern Nigeria. The health benefit of this fruit is incredible. This period, garden egg is sold and displayed at affordable prices.

Loved by many especially pregnant women, garden egg is loaded with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. A bag of garden egg at the market is sold from N3,000 and N4,000 upwards. You can purchase this fruit at the market near you from N50 and N100 upwards.

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CUCUMBER

Cucumber is used for a whole lot of things as it is full of nutrients that contribute to the growth and development of the body particularly the skin.

This is one of item that is very affordable in the market presently. The cost of purchase of cucumber at the market ranges from N50 and N100 upwards while the cost of purchase by sellers ranges from N4,000, N5,000 and N6,000 upwards per bag depending on the supply level.

BANANA

Banana is a fruit that is loved by all due to its nutritional benefit. Presently, the supply level of banana at the market is very low and this according to fruit sellers inflates the cost of purchase and the cost price.

It is sold per bag in the market and the cost of transportation in recent times determines to a large extent its cost of purchase and cost price.

A bag of banana is sold from N8,000, N10,000 and N15,000 upwards depending on the size of the banana and the supply level.

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You can get banana for consumption in major markets from N100, N200 upwards.

MAIZE AND PEAR

This is its season but the level of supply has affected the cost of purchase of this fruit in the market. At Jakande market, Ketu, Lagos, a bag of maize is sold from N1,500, N2,500, N3,500 and N4,000 upwards depending on how fresh the corn is and its supply level at the market.

These two tag along; a small basket of pear is sold from N3,000 upwards at the market as against its old price of N2,000 and N2,500.

AVOCADO

With a rough green skin, buttery fresh and large seed in the middle, avocado is described as nutty and creamy. There are few types of avocado and it is unique to the country where it is being grown.

This is the season where avocado is sold at affordable prices but sellers informed that their cost of purchase is high now as occasioned by the pandemic and high cost of transportation. A small basket of avocado is sold from N2,500.

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PINEAPPLE

Pineapple is one fruit that is processed into juice, syrup and more as its antioxidant level makes it one fruit in the market that is well accepted and a favourite of many yet the current level of supply as well as the economic situation of the country affects the cost of purchase and cost price of pineapple in the country.

After the border closure, the imported ones from neighbouring countries’ became very scarce while the local ones from the northern-region of the country are quite expensive.

It is sold in dozen and at the market, sellers informed that the cost of a dozen of pineapple is sold from N3,000, N5,000 and N6,000 upwards.

APPLE

A popular fruit that contains vitamins, antioxidants, dietary fiber and many other nutrients, apple does not have a specific location where it is sold in affordability as most goods are purchased from the northern region of the country.

Presently, it is not in season because the cost of purchase is high and some sellers informed that they are very difficult to get now due to low supply.

A carton of apple is sold from N8,000, N10,000 and N14,000 upwards as against its old price of N5,000 and N6,000 upwards.

PLANTAIN AND POTATO

Plantain is also in season now and their supply is very large. A bunch of plantain at Jakande market, Ketu, Lagos is sold from N2,500 and N3,500 upwards.

plantain and sweet potato are very nutritional and contains vitamins and minerals. they are rich source of fibre, potassium and magnesium.

A bag of potato cost N10,000 upwards and they are purchased from major markets like Mile 12 international market, mile 12, Lagos.

You can make good cash from selling just a bunch and record a profit of N3,000, a plantain seller informed.

NEW YAM

New yam comes out depending on the state that are harvesting at a particular period of time. In fact, some state within the country are not harvesting now but would harvest as at when due.

The good news is that is the season where we have new yam in abundance in markets across the country. At Jakande market, the supply of new yam was high but sellers lament over the cost of purchase leading to increment in the cost price of new yam. Interestingly, at the market, you can get a small-size of new yam from N150 upwards and medium-size of new yam from N600 upwards and a big-size of new yam from N1,000 upwards because they offer the yam in wholesale prices.

In a chat with our correspondent, the seller informed that the harvest of these yams from various state depends on the ground; adding that the ground determines the colour and the taste of the yam after harvest.

Yams are sold by 50 pieces or 100 pieces depending on the sellers’ cash or fund. A 100 pieces of small sized yams are sold from N27,000 and N30,000 upwards while a 100 pieces of medium sized yams are sold from N40,000 and N50,000 upwards and the big sized of yams are sold from N70,000 upwards. The high cost of transportation and the supply level led to the increment in the cost price of yam at the market in recent times.

Yams are purchased from states within the country like Benue, Abuja, Kwara and more. The cost price of these goods are not fixed but are offered at reasonable prices depending on the market visited, sellers’ decision and the supply on a particular market day.

Market Survey: The market is dry, everyone is broke - Market women via Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng