“As winter is coming to an end, more and more people are consuming fruits and juices, but supply has been low. So prices of some fruits have soared,” said Amar Baniya, president of the Kuleshwor Fruit Wholesalers’ Association.

Local vendors are selling bananas at Rs 80-Rs 90 per dozen which used to cost Rs 70-Rs 75 a week ago. Apple prices have surged to Rs 160 per kg from Rs 140.

Jhole apple is being sold at Rs 250 per kg, against Rs 230 before, while Fuji apple costs Rs 350 per kg, up from Rs 300 earlier. “Apple is likely to become costlier in the days to come as shipments from China have been small,” said Baniya.

Prices of sweet orange, pineapple and grape has also risen. While sweet orange soared to Rs 90 per kg from Rs 75 last week, pineapple costs 85 per kg, up from Rs 80 a week earlier.

“We used to buy a 20 kg carton of black grapes for Rs 2,400 a week ago, but now it costs Rs 2,800.” Retail prices of black grape range from Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kg.

Baniya said that fruit imports from India had dropped in recent days largely due to the Holi festival there. “Most of the fruits sold here are imported from India, and traders are not sending enough fruits to Nepal as they were busy celebrating Holi,” said Baniya.

However, watermelon, a popular summer fruit, has became cheaper compared to last week due to a surge in supply. It costs Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg in the wholesale market, up from Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg. According to traders, 20 tonnes of watermelons are consumed daily in the Kathmandu valley during the summer season.