Green bananas are still 'sold out' despite sky-high prices near Tet

This year, at the local markets in Vinh city, the price of green bananas for displaying the five-fruit tray has skyrocketed compared to previous years. Mr. Tran Huu Thai (Hung Loc ward, Vinh city) said: "On the day of the Kitchen God worship, I bought a bunch of bananas for 150,000 VND and found it quite expensive. Now, going to the market, looking around, the cheapest bunch is 200,000 VND; a single bunch, with beautiful fruit, costs up to 400,000-500,000 VND."

Surveys at many green banana selling points (mouldy bananas, royal bananas) in Vinh city show that prices have skyrocketed in the past few days. Accordingly, green bananas are sold for 130,000 VND to 850,000 VND per bunch, depending on shape, color and odd or even number of fruits. Bunches with odd number of fruits (15, 17, 19... fruits) have much higher prices, because according to worshiping beliefs, odd is a positive number, bringing good luck to the owner.

Ms. Trinh Thi Lien, a trader from Thanh Chuong who brings green bananas to sell at Coi market (Hung Loc ward) said: "Every year, I only sell green bananas at this market on two occasions: Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao and Tet Nguyen Dan. Banana prices increase before December 23 due to the high demand for bananas to display on the five-fruit tray, and on the days leading up to Tet, banana prices skyrocket.

Since the end of November, I have been ordering from suppliers and gardeners to have the most beautiful bunches to sell for Tet. In this banana stall, the cheapest bunch is 180,000-200,000 VND, the most expensive bunch is 500,000 VND. As for the odd bunches with beautiful fruit and high prices, there are no goods to sell to customers. The whole stall only has 3-5 bunches.

According to traders, banana prices usually increase sharply during Tet, but this year the sudden increase is due to limited supply. “This year, key banana growing areas such as Thai Binh, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh,... were severely damaged by storm No. 3. Therefore, the scarce supply has pushed banana prices up,” said Trinh Van Thanh, a trader specializing in green bananas at Vinh wholesale market.

Because of the shortage of bananas in the North and the high price, many traders import bananas from the South to sell. Although the price of bananas from the South is quite cheap, only 80,000-130,000 VND/bunch, even and beautiful, they are not popular with people. Because people are afraid that bananas transported by refrigerated containers, when brought home for worship on Tet, will quickly deteriorate.

“The bunches are single, the fruit is beautiful, the color is shiny and the price is only 1/3 of the price of bananas from the North, but I still choose to buy bananas from the North. Firstly, the bananas from the South look young, the bananas are transported by refrigerated trucks, so when worshiping on Tet, the stem is easily bruised and rotten. If the fruit for worshiping on Tet is rotten like that, it will be unlucky. Therefore, I do not buy bananas from the South to display on the altar,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Que, a resident.

While green bananas have increased sharply in Vinh city, in rural areas, banana prices only fluctuate from 50,000 VND to 150,000 VND per bunch. However, according to many traders, traders have hunted down gardens, choosing beautiful bunches of bananas to sell in large markets, so bananas in rural markets are smaller.

Not only green bananas but also fruits for Tet fruit trays have increased in price by 10-30%. Cat Chu mango grade 1 is currently priced at 120,000 VND/kg, green-skin grapefruit is 50,000 VND/kg, up 20% compared to last week.

Fruits such as custard apple and papaya also increase in price every day, fluctuating from 70,000-80,000 VND/kg, red dragon fruit 60,000-80,000 VND/kg, white dragon fruit 60,000 VND/kg, Buddha's hand 200,000-600,000 VND/fruit depending on shape, size, and color.

At traditional markets, according to traders, purchasing power this year is lower than in previous years. However, due to low supply, fruit prices have still increased significantly compared to normal days./.