Seasonal ice apple fetches good price in Mandalay market

The price of ice apple (which is also called sugar palm or toddy palm seed or Asian palmyra palm) this year is rocketing higher than the previous years amid the number of palm plants declining and high input costs.
The ice apple is the seasonal fruit in Kason and Nayon (May and June period). Shante village in Meiktila Township supplies the ice apple to the Mandalay market. However, they have to bear the high transportation cost.
“They come and sell the ice apple in Mandalay market every year. This year, the number of palm trees is dropping. The yield of ice apple is therefore falling. The price increased by 50 per cent this year,” said Ko Min Naing, a seller from Shante village.
The price of ice apples was K1,000 per 10 fruits last year. This year, six ice apples are worth K1,000. Ice apples from TadaU, Patheingyi, Meiktila and Myingyan areas are sent to the Mandalay market.
People like seasonal ice apples for their taste and it has medical benefits as well. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM