Durian seller Worasak Wongdeephumidol said
customers are grumbling about the prices, but most are still buying.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Fears over this spring’s “durian scandal” appear to have borne fruit, as
Pattaya-area merchants are plucking near-record prices for the pungent
fruit after farmers across the country were caught harvesting crops
early to constrict supply.
A late June check of Pattaya-area markets found durians selling for up
to 150 baht a kilogram, prices that put some shoppers off more than the
fruit’s smell. Vendors bucking the trend and selling near wholesale
prices were attracting many new customers.
The high prices come almost three months after
Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat authorities launched surprise warehouse
inspections and jailed both farmers and traders caught harvesting
durians too early. Agricultural officials worried publicly that the
under-ripe fruit tasted bad and that, if shipped abroad, would diminish
the popularity of one of Thailand’s signature exports.
The early harvests, however, also took a larger-than-normal supply of
durian off the market during the peak summer season. Wholesalers faced
with constricted supply found it easier to raise prices.
Pattaya durian vendor Worasak Wongdeephumibol, 40, said durian has been
harder to find and his margins have shrunk by as much as 20 baht per
kilogram.
Long-stemmed durians were selling for 150 baht per kilogram in Pattaya
markets, while Chanee and Mongthong varieties were retailing for 40-70
baht per kilogram. He said customers are grumbling about the prices, but
most are still buying.
Worasak admitted that, despite the harvesting scandal, some types of
durian are still in abundant supply. Their sweeter taste may be
comparing favorably to fruit harvested early in the growing season.
In Naklua, prices are similar, but the vendors doing the best business
are ones selling at under-market prices.
