Rawan Abdulhadi, a housewife, stood in front of a fruit cart in Dar Al-Salam District, Cairo, perplexed. The prices were beyond her reach, and with Ramadan underway, her children needed to eat fruit regularly after the fasting hours. Determined, she began haggling with the vendor.
Hammad Ahmed, the fruit cart owner, proposed she purchase “second-class” fruit, which was not fresh and contained many spoiled pieces, but was priced at less than half of the fresh “first-class” fruit. Rawan reluctantly opted for the “second-class” one, despite its compromised quality.
“This year, I will depend on second-class fruit from the vendors,” Rawan explains. “Most of it is spoiled, but I can make juice from it, like strawberries and guava, because they are half the price, which will save me a lot. I will also rely on powdered juice, which, although not healthy, is affordable and practical for Ramadan.”
Second-Class Fruit
Amid soaring fruit prices, Egyptian families have increasingly turned to second-class fruit as a staple during Ramadan. Previously a fixture in Ramadan meals, fresh fruit has become a luxury, compelling families to scale back their fruit expenditures and opt for more affordable alternatives such as second-class fruit or juice powder.
“I consistently stock second-class fruit because I’ve noticed the growing demand. With fruit prices skyrocketing, many people simply can’t afford the fresh variety. Recognizing this shift, I decided to focus on second-class fruit. Although it contains some spoiled parts, it can be made into juice, offering a practical solution for those grappling with high prices,” Ahmed, a fruit vendor, observes.
High Demand on Second-Class Fruit
As Ramadan approaches, food prices habitually surge, with fruit prices climbing by 5.8% and poultry by 10.3%, contributing to a 0.53% rise in food inflation in Egypt, according to the Central Bank report from late February.
This escalation in fruit prices has impacted Ahmed's stock of premium fruit, which now sits unsold on his cart, while the demand for second-class fruit has surged. "This season used to be my prime selling period, with women eager to buy fruit and stock up for Ramadan. But now, top-quality fruit remains stagnant in the market, with few able to afford it."
Premium bananas and oranges are priced at 25 EGP, whereas their second-class counterparts are 12 EGP, half the price. Similarly, strawberries are 40 EGP, with second-class ones at 20 EGP. This disparity has confined fruit purchases to higher-income families, making it challenging for many to stock up on juices for Ramadan.
Apples are priced at 65 EGP, with the second-class variety at 30 EGP. However, Samah Mohamed, a housewife from Dar Al-Salam, Cairo, still finds the price prohibitive. Buying 2 kilos would cost her 60 EGP, yet she wouldn't be able to provide fresh fruit for her children.
"I used to buy fruit and store juice for Ramadan so we could enjoy a variety of fruits throughout the month. But now, I can't afford both fruit and meat. My fridge contains a few vegetables, some bread, and other second-class fruits, but not apples, as even the second-class variety is spoiled and expensive," she said.
Risks of Second-Class Fruit
Dr. Heba Abdulatif, a therapeutic nutrition consultant at the Cancer Institute, cautions against the consumption of second-class fruit, citing their potential contamination with bacteria and fungi that are often resistant to common cleaning methods. She notes that removing damaged sections or simply washing the fruit may not effectively eliminate the bacteria, as it can permeate beyond the visibly affected areas.
In an interview with "Sout Al-Salam," Dr. Abdulatif elaborates, "consuming one or two fruits daily, roughly half a kilo, is a manageable and cost-effective amount for families, providing essential vitamins and nutrients. Completely foregoing fruit purchases is not advisable, particularly since some families invest substantial sums in preservative-laden food products for their children, which are comparable in cost to half a kilo of fresh fruit."
Less Fruit Varieties
Mahmoud, a fruit vendor in Dar Al-Salam, has also ceased selling apples due to the waning demand from local residents. He now focuses on more affordable fruit varieties compared to apples. "The cart now features three types of fruit: bananas, oranges, and strawberries. I used to offer the finest quality because there was a market for it, but now, the demand is on second-class fruit," Mahmoud remarks.
According to Mahmoud, the maximum quantity a family purchases is 2 kilos, with most fruit varieties costing up to 100 EGP, a sum that may only sustain a family for a week. "Two kilos of good strawberries cost 80 EGP, and apples are around 130 EGP, making them unaffordable for most."
Samah and Ne’maat, housewives from Dar Al-Salam, endeavor to select the least damaged second-class fruits from Mahmoud's cart. Ne’maat, who borrowed 2,000 EGP to stock up for Ramadan, has set a lower budget for fruit, considering it a luxury this year.
She explains, "I bought 150 EGP worth of second-class fruit to save money. Maybe we can afford meat once or twice during Ramadan, and I'll make the rest of the juices from powdered mixes."
The shift to powdered juices by Samah, Ne'maat, and Rawan has significantly impacted fruit vendors, including Om Mohamed in the Dar Al-Salam District. She observed a marked decline in customer interest this year, attributed to soaring prices and a growing preference for second-class fruit.
"No one can afford to buy first-class fruit," Om Mohamed remarked. "Women resort to purchasing second-class fruit, removing the spoiled parts for juice, while consuming the rest. Others, out of desperation, have turned to powdered juices."
This year, Samah, Ne'maat, and Rawan have managed to find alternatives to fresh fruit by relying on second-class produce or powdered fruit. However, with prices continuing to rise, next year may pose even greater challenges, leaving families with limited options and threatening the presence of fruit plates on Ramadan tables.
