Your everyday breakfast may not be the same again as desi fruits have now been replaced by imported ones.

Till a few months ago, foreign fruits were seldom seen in the local bazaars and one could only find them served as desserts in posh hotels.

Things have, however, changed. From Chinese apples to Thai pears, every exotic type is available within your reach. The fruits are not only tasty but are also attractive in their chic packages lined with thermocol and laces.

For the ?fruiterians? there are a variety of fruits to choose from. Though they are expensive, the demand for foreign fruits has not gone down and fruit vendors are doing brisk business.

Daily Market

The fruit bazaar of the capital has stocks of imported fruits neatly lined up in the racks of small kiosks in the market. Almost all the shops sell foreign fruits apart from local ones. Shopkeepers feel that foreign fruits have their own charm and many buy them because of the distinct flavour and aroma.

Though the desi versions sell the most, foreign fruit sale is also catching up. ?We have a fixed customer base who buy the foreign fruits as the fruits are a bit expensive and cannot be adjusted to the common man?s budget,? said Parvez a fruit seller in Daily Market. He added that the taste is more refined.

Kutchery Bazar

The fruit shops lined on the road can be spotted from a distance with their array of fruits glittering amidst bright lights. Kumar, a vendor explained that foreign fruits are mainly brought from Bombay and Calcutta where they are unloaded in the ports and transported to different parts of the country. Kumar added that the fruits are not only fresh but are also without any stains or damage. The packaging of the fruits is done so well that the freshness is retained for a long time.

There are strawberries from New Zealand, which is the craze for this season. Customers can be seen queuing up frequently to buy the fruity delights in spite of the price.

Rose and Petals:

The proprietor of the shop feels that apart from having a distinctive taste and being different from the desi ones, the imported fruits have extra vitamins in it. Although the prices of these fruits are a bit steep, such concerns are taking a back seat where health is concerned. The foreign fruits are also a main ingredient in different salads served at wedding parties, maintained the proprietor.

Wish list

Mango Stein, strawberries from New Zealand Rs 200 for a small bunch
Japanese honey melons and green apples for Rs 240 to 300 a kg,
Kiwis from Dubai for Rs 50 a piece
Chinese pears for Rs 280 a kg
Thai tamarinds at the rate of Rs 250 to Rs 300 per half kg

First hand

Fruity flavours of the season

Kumar feels that the market for these foriegn fruits is fast catching up in the state capital and he expects it to increase even more in the coming days. He has increased the bulk of fruits which he used to bring before due to the demand.

?From what we have noticed so far, the doctors prefer the fruits more and we have already made some permanant customers in them. Apart from that, people belonging to the different rungs of the society are coming to us to buy the fruits. People are going for the quality rather than the price factor. The demand is going to rise further with each passing day.? she said.