Diwali is on 8 November 2026, and fruit baskets are already on shopping lists. Here is what the mandis in Uttar Pradesh reported on 27 October 2026, and how to read the numbers.
Lucknow, 27 October 2026
From Gaon Junction's UP fruit price list:
| Fruit | Wholesale (₹/quintal) | Retail (₹/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Banana, ripe | 2,860 | 50 |
| Banana, raw | 1,750 | 28 |
| Papaya, ripe | 3,550 | 60 |
| Pomegranate | 7,600 | 130 |
| Mosambi | 3,600 | 55 |
| Apple | 8,700 | 115 |
| Lemon | 7,000 | 125 |
In Gonda, guava was ₹5,200 per quintal wholesale and ₹70/kg retail. Across UP mandis that day, ripe papaya ranged from about ₹2,550 to ₹4,520 per quintal and pomegranate from about ₹6,500 to ₹9,250 per quintal.
How to read mandi prices
- 1 quintal = 100 kg. Divide by 100 to get a per-kg wholesale rate.
- Wholesale is not retail. Transport, ripening, losses and margins sit between the two.
- One day, one city. Prices move daily and differ by grade, so treat these as a guide.
How to pick good fruit this week
- Banana: yellow with a few brown specks is ripe; green-tipped keeps a few more days.
- Papaya: mostly yellow-orange skin that gives slightly near the stalk; avoid wet, sunken patches.
- Pomegranate: heavy for its size, with firm, unbroken skin; slightly angular sides often mean full arils.
- Guava: fragrant, with a slight give; firm green ones ripen at room temperature.
A balanced festive basket
Mixing lower-priced everyday fruit (banana, mosambi, guava) with one or two treat fruits (pomegranate, apple) keeps a gift basket colourful and on budget. Aim for a variety of fruits through the week, as suggested in the ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024.
Sources
Questions
Where do these prices come from?
From Gaon Junction's daily UP fruit price list for 27 October 2026, which gives wholesale (per quintal), retail (per kg) and arrivals for several mandis.
Why is the shop price higher than the mandi price?
Mandi wholesale prices exclude transport, handling losses, storage and the seller's margin, so retail prices are usually higher.
Which fruit is best value this week?
In Lucknow on 27 October, banana and mosambi were the lowest-priced per kg. Value also depends on ripeness, waste and how you will use the fruit.
Are these prices the same across India?
No. They are UP figures for one day. Check your local mandi or Agmarknet data.
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