High veggie prices dent Diwali spirit

Coriander, peas price shoots up to Rs 300/kg, tomatoes sell for Rs 160/ kg; cauliflower, cluster beans and ivy gourd sell for Rs 160/kg

- Sonali Mistry

Just when you thought inflation couldn't get any worse, vegetable prices have gone through the roof, reaching an average Rs 160 to Rs 200 per kg. The escalating cost of everyday herbs and spices is wreaking havoc on the budgets of middle-class families, leaving homemakers in Ahmedabad struggling to make ends meet.

While there's been a slight drop from earlier highs - coriander once sold for Rs 400 per kg and lemon and ginger at Rs 200 per kg - the current prices of coriander at Rs 300 per kg and ginger and lemon at Rs 160 per kg offer little comfort. Even green chillies are being sold at a hefty Rs 120 per kg.

Essential greens, fruits become a luxury

Even the most basic vegetables, like potatoes, are becoming expensive, rising from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg. Onions and tomatoes, previously priced at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, are now being sold at Rs 80 and Rs 120 per kg, respectively.