Pune: Rising Summer Heat Drives Lemon Prices Up; Retail Rates Reach Rs 8 To Rs 10 Per Piece
Market Yard, 17th March 2025: With the increasing summer heat, the demand for lemons has surged significantly. Lemon juice vendors, street-side sellers, and household consumers are driving this demand, causing retail prices to soar to ₹8-₹10 per lemon at the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard.
Lemons are primarily cultivated in Barshi (Solapur district) and Rashin (Ahilyanagar district). As temperatures rise, supply in the wholesale market has dwindled. A month ago, approximately 2,500 sacks of lemons were arriving daily from Solapur and Ahilyanagar. However, the current supply has dropped to around 1,500-1,600 sacks per day. Each sack contains 300-400 lemons, depending on their size. Due to this shortfall and increased demand, retail prices have risen.
Lemon cultivation requires a significant amount of water. The ongoing water scarcity due to summer has impacted production. As temperatures continue to soar, the demand for lemons is expected to rise further, especially from juice vendors and beverage stalls.
Currently, lemon prices are high across major markets, including Mumbai and Pune. Traders noted that to meet the growing demand, traders at Market Yard have started receiving lemon consignments from Hyderabad and Chennai. Every summer, lemons from southern states enter Maharashtra’s markets due to better prices in Mumbai and Pune.
