Fear of snakes grips the tomato market

Reportedly, about 90 percent of tomatoes have developed a spot on their surface. To make matters worse, a viral social media post claiming that snakebites cause these spots has caused widespread panic. The post warned that the smeared tomatoes were unsafe for consumption, causing many consumers to hesitate in purchasing them.

One vendor noted that he usually sells tomatoes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but since the spots became known, customers are now anxious and reluctant to buy them. That’s why he started closing his stall earlier, around 2 p.m. He mentioned that when such posts are shared on social media, local officials often respond to allay public concerns.

Wholesaler K. Chinna Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that tomato arrivals have declined due to recent floods and rains that have affected the crop in Chittoor and Anantapur. The quality is also poor, with spots appearing because farmers grow their crops in open fields rather than under canopy conditions. The rainwater has hindered proper growth and led to the spots.

Chinna Reddy noted that while the market used to receive six to eight truckloads of tomatoes, due to reduced production, it now only reaches about three loads. He expects this situation to continue until after the Dasara festival, when local crops are expected to hit the market.