AZE.US
Interest in seasonal fruit is rising in Baku with the arrival of spring, but the first produce of the season is appearing with price tags that put it out of reach for many buyers.
Early cherry plums are among the most expensive items now on sale in local markets. Vendors say prices vary depending on the type, size and place of origin, but in some cases they are reaching AZN 100 per kilogram. The earliest and most expensive batches are largely greenhouse-grown, pushing prices sharply higher before the full season begins.
Unripe apricots have also already appeared on the market, though at lower prices than cherry plums. Sellers say 300 grams cost around AZN 7, while kilogram prices vary depending on size and origin. In some cases, they are selling for as much as AZN 30 per kilogram.
The reason is straightforward: supply is still limited, and most of the fruit now on sale is not coming from a full open-field harvest. Much of it is being grown in greenhouse conditions or reaching the market in very small early volumes, allowing sellers to charge a premium.
According to vendors, current cherry plum supplies include produce from areas such as Zira, Shamkir and Goychay, while early apricots are being grown in places including Baku and Nakhchivan. At this stage, availability remains tight, and prices are highly sensitive to size and appearance.
Strawberries look more affordable by comparison. Sellers say they are currently being offered for around AZN 5 to AZN 6 per kilogram, with fruit arriving from Shamkir, Jalilabad and Lankaran. Demand remains high not only for cherry plums and unripe apricots, but also for strawberries.
Watermelon has also appeared on the market, imported from Iran and selling for about AZN 5 per kilogram. Melons are still arriving from South America, although vendors say that period is nearly over and more familiar supplies from Turkey and Iran are expected to reach the market within the next 20 to 25 days.
Traders say the current spike in prices should not last. Once the season fully opens and larger volumes of local produce reach the market, prices for cherry plums, apricots and other spring fruit are expected to fall.
For now, though, early cherry plums in Baku are less an everyday seasonal purchase than a high-priced sign that spring has arrived ahead of schedule.