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Plum and kiwi fruits are gradually gaining popularity among consumers despite being costly as they are delicious and have high nutritional value.
No official data is available, but traders at different fruit markets in the capital said plum and kiwi sales had increased recently.
Mahmudul Hasan Rayhan, a fruit trader at Mirpur-1, told The Business Post, “The two exotic fruits have generated great interest among consumers. Many do not know the names of the fruits, but they buy it out of curiosity despite high prices.”
He said both plum and kiwi are sold at Tk 900 per kg. Plum is mainly imported from Thailand, and kiwi from New Zealand, he added.
Plum is a medium-sized stone fruit, with its most popular variety having dark purple-red skin with yellow flesh inside. It has an inedible stone in the centre.
Kiwi has bright green flesh and brown, hairy skin. The interior of the egg-shaped fruit is dotted with black seeds. It is named after the bird of the same name from New Zealand.
Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association Director Rakib Hossain said plum and kiwi are not that familiar yet in Bangladesh as those are not locally grown.
He said the fruits are imported by small amounts but could not provide any specific data.
Saleh Mohammad Adnan, a customer at Karwan Bazar, said he buys plum and kiwi as these are very tasty. He also said the prices of the fruits are much higher compared to that of other exotic fruits available in the market.
Plums are rich in antioxidants. They may help manage blood sugar levels as they have high levels of a polyphenol called chlorogenic acid. They may also support heart health and enhance cognitive function.
Kiwi is well-known for its high vitamin C content. It is also rich in protective antioxidants. It supports heart health and aids digestion.
Traders believe plum and kiwi sales will go up further in the coming days if prices decline.
They also said the authorities concerned could consider harvesting the fruits locally for exports as these have high demand in the global market.
Data from the central bank shows Bangladesh’s fruit imports grew by 39.12 per cent to $480 million in the fiscal year 2020-21 from $345 million in the previous year.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute says the country has an annual demand for 11.68 million tonnes of fruits. Currently, 72 types of fruits are cultivated in the country, according to Agriculture Information Service.
