Prices of fruits especially round ones, associated traditionally with the New Year revelry, have skyrocketed a day to New Year’s Eve.

Prices at markets in Cebu City have been observed to be jaw-dropping.

Local fruits, for example, such as lanzones (also known as duku fruit or langsat) is at P400 a kilo, avocado at P350 a kilo, mangosteen at P650 a kilo, and chico (sapodilla) at P200 per kilo at market stalls in Barangay Cogon, Cebu City. There is an abundance of fruit supply in the said area.

Some fruits are sold per piece such as granada (pomegranate) at P20 each, tambis (wax apple) at P20 each.

Vendors, such as Algim Alfuerto, came to defend the apparent escalation of prices, saying that most local fruit supplies come from Mindanao.

Meanwhile, imported fruits such as grapes have ample supply, yet prices have soared to P350 a kilo from P280; kiat-kiat (mini Mandarin oranges or clementines) at P200 a kilo or P100 a net; and apples at three pieces for P100.

As for fruit baskets that hold the traditional 13 fruits (trese klases) are sold at P400 to P1,000 depending on the variety of fruits.

Shoppers, such as Nova Therese Yanong, find the prices quite high but shuts her eyes to the price tags saying that fruits have become essential on the meal table most especially for the Media Noche get-together on New Year’s Eve.