ABC’s latest workplace comedy, Abbott Elementary, has earned a rare perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.

While a 100 percent rating on the site is rare, it’s an even more unusual feat for later episodes of a popular show.

Most series start out high in the ratings and gradually decline each season, as was the case with True Detective, Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars.

However, Quinta Brunson’s hit program has increased from 98 percent in the first season to 100 percent in the second and third seasons.

The mockumentary, available on Prime and Disney Plus, follows a group of teachers at a Philadelphia public school as they help students succeed when the odds are often against them.

The first episode of season three started off with a bang, with an hour-long premiere.

The episode also featured special guests at the Philadelphia-based school – Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, along with fellow players Brandon Graham and Jason Kelce.

With a style similar to the mockumentary style of The Office, Abbott Elementary has won over audiences with characters ranging from wholesome fan favorites to morally questionable scene-stealers.

For example, despite the school’s lack of funding, tone-deaf principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) spends money on her own luxurious private bathroom and later admits to microdosing mushrooms.

It is also revealed that she only managed to secure the position after blackmailing the Chief Inspector.

The benefactors who keep the company and the students afloat include Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), a young teacher at the school, and the main character Janine Teagues, played by Quinta herself.

Other quirky personalities include the God-loving, no-nonsense Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), the smart Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), and the clumsy but well-meaning Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams).

Critical acclaim came from Liz Shannon Miller Consequence, who said, “Abbott Elementary didn’t hesitate to reach for greatness from its first episode, and the season 3 premiere of the Quinta Brunson-created comedy shows multiple reasons why the show is ready to entertain us for as long as it wants to.”

Meanwhile, Aramide Tinubu is released Variety said, “Brunson and the writers have prepared themselves to tackle some of the deeper and more complex issues that are sending educators across the country running for the mountains.”

Aramide referenced the series’ ability to remain “witty” while addressing the critical issue of teacher burnout.

Top critic Clint Worthington also reasoned similarly, saying “Career Day” is low on laughs and heavy on character, focusing more on warm, fuzzy moments between the characters than on mining them for [humour].’

Meanwhile, Joshua Rivera comes out Polygon added, “Abbott Elementary is a great comedy about resilience and optimism, about what it’s like to not only make the best of the bad hand you’ve been dealt, but also how to inspire others to do the same.”

Elsewhere, fans of the show took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the hit.

“Watching Abbott Elementary, I absolutely love this show,” one raved.

“I love Abbott Elementary because every episode honestly makes me laugh,” another added.

‘ABC please give Quinta an unlimited budget. this is real television!!! 10s across the board! #AbbottElementary,” a third begged.

“Why No One Told Me How Good Abbott Elementary Is! I’m addicted!’ one commenter exclaimed.

Another commented: ‘ABBOT IS BACKKKK! I’m so excited lol #AbbottElementary.”

Vince Staples has launched his eponymous TV show on Netflix and viewers are so impressed that they binged the entire season in just a few days.

For the Norf rapper, 30, his very first leading series may already be long overdue, following his stint as charming playboy Maurice in the Emmy-winning comedy Abbott Elementary.

And now the Compton native has written, produced and starred in the satirical series that recreates the rapper’s life — including wild but often sadly realistic tales of racism, gun violence, wealth and, of course, romance — even though a disclaimer warns that it’s “a work of fiction’.

The Vince Staples Show scored gold on Rotten Tomatoes, achieving a rare score of 100 percent, along with a staggering audience score of 89 percent.

The program is also a hit with viewers who have watched it Xformerly Twitter, to reveal that they are ‘dying laughing’, and that they need season two ‘now’.

The drama series, which debuted exclusively on Netflix on February 15, is set in 2023 and features five crazy stories, perhaps the most memorable and thought-provoking being a bank robbery gone wrong.

In the bizarre episode, a bank manager – played by Matt Oberg – denies Vince a business loan for his breakfast cereal idea Kapow Pops! simply because he is an ‘artist’.

But in a bizarre turn of events, the elite bank is hit by an aggressive robbery – and the perpetrators are childhood friends of the rapper.

Vince then joins the team as they comically plot to empty the bank’s reserves, but their plan is immediately foiled when they discover the vault has already been emptied. The robbers then complain about their unrealized dreams of a vacation to Tulum, Mexico.

Thinking ahead, Vince negotiates with the lead actor – actor Myles Bullock – to release the manager, as long as he promises a $10 million loan for his cereal once the dust settles, which he agrees to.

But just as the couple leaves the bank, the clerk reaches for his handkerchief and is shot in the head by police.

Other riveting moments include a nightmarish high-speed gunfight in episode five, when Vince and an old enemy engage in a shootout as the man’s young son languishes helplessly in the car while his father is shot dead off-camera.

The show uses current topics to provide meaning to the audience, something that happens when Vince has another run-in with the police, but this time he isn’t so lucky.

In one episode, a white police officer leaves a donut shop in Long Beach, but is startled when a cream-colored Mercedes G-Class speeds right past him.

Naturally, the driver – Vince himself – is arrested and taken to a local police station where new dangers and even more deadly enemies await him.

A terrifying opponent takes shape in the form of a criminal facing ‘800 years to life’ who threatens to ‘line him up’ if he enters the general population, but luckily the police offer him a short escape to their staff room.

At first, Vince says he doesn’t trust law enforcement, but after the two joke about it, the officer warns, “I’m not asking.”

Later in the teacher’s lounge, some cops entertain themselves at Vince’s expense, warning him that he will be the cause of his own downfall if he doesn’t act “more like Tupac.”

Vince immediately drew on the satire and responded, “He died a very violent death,” to which the police shouted Tupac’s famous mantra, “thug’s life!” shouts.

Vince is eventually released, causing the officers to apologize for a case of ‘mistaken identity’ that they admit is a ‘very common’ occurrence.

The dramatic episode ends with the officers singing the lyrics to his 2015 hit “Norf Norf,” when they reach the line, “I never run from nothing but the police!” the scene fades to black.

There are surprise appearances from rapper Rick Ross who ‘teaches’ the aspiring entrepreneur the tools for success, and from actress Vanessa Bell Calloway, who plays Vince’s temperamental mother – ready to go to war at the family dinner over macaroni and cheese.

While the show does pack a huge punch in just five episodes, fans have been ranting that it’s not close enough to satisfy them.

Some have admitted to ‘binge-watching’ the series in less than a week, while others have firmly called for more.

One person wrote, “For Vince to capture a bank robbery scene is gold. I had to laugh to death’.

Another confessed: “I watched that whole Vince Staples Show.”

A third added: ‘Vince Staples show is hilarious. I’ve seen the bank robbery episode twice. Maybe I’ll look at it again today. Why did he only give us five episodes?

“I need more episodes of the Vince Staples show NEOOWWW,” another demanded.

More compliments poured in for the star’s efforts: ‘Enjoyed every episode of the Vince Staples show. Pretty funny. His best quality is that he always seems so real.”

“I love the Vince Staples show, 10 out of 10.”

Fans will remember the surprising impression Vince Staples made as Maurice in Abbott Elementary, playing the love interest of teacher Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory’s best friend Eddie (Tyler James Williams).

Appearing mainly in season two, he won hearts as a ladies’ man who showed a keen interest in dating his friend’s co-workers.

But when Eddie warned him to stay away from the women because he would ‘regret it’, he hilariously replied ‘oh that’s perfect’.

ONLY geniuses have been able to discover the hidden apples in a field of tomatoes.

The tricky puzzle has left many puzzle players stumped as they take up the challenge.

6

The Hungarian artist Gergely DudasKnown online as Dudolf, created a brainteaser that looked simple at first glance.

Dudolf started creating his challenges during the lockdown and fans are left scratching their heads.

He recently planted a field of tomatoes that were close together, some of whom were laughing or making funny faces.

But in plain sight, three apples are looking right at you.

With only small differences between a tomato and an apple, you need a high IQ to solve the puzzle.

Those up for the challenge have just 10 seconds to solve it.

If you need a hint, focus on the stems of each fruit and see if anything stands out.

6

When you're done, see if you can find the four mice and five mushrooms among the autumn leaves in less than 10 seconds.

6

This is another Dudolf creation that allows readers to test their intelligence.

At first glance, there are vibrant autumn leaves superimposed on each other. The autumn colors of orange, yellow, black and green are spread across the entire photo.

The dense canopy makes it almost impossible to find the sneaky mice and hidden mushrooms that are also in the photo.

Like the previous puzzle, readers have just 10 seconds to find them.

If you need a hint, slowly scan the photo and see if you notice anything.

If you think you have found the answer, please feel free to check your answer.

6

Try another puzzle and see if you can spot all three bananas in 19 seconds.

6

This creation by Dudolf tests the vision of the puzzle players and shows how quickly they can discover the obvious.

This playful drawing shows a photo full of Pikachus, a popular children's character from the Pokemon series.

In the photo, some characters wear hats, some make cute faces, and others even wear disguises.

But in the sea of ​​yellow cartoons there are bananas waiting to be discovered, and players only have 19 seconds to do so.

Very few have managed to solve this puzzle within the time slot.

People have taken over Facebook to confess that they couldn't beat the clock in looking for the three bananas.

“I haven't found one yet but every time I look back I see another Pikachu doing something I hadn't noticed before lol,” someone commented.

“Very cute!! I found the first one and then kind of forgot I was looking for bananas [laughing] But eventually I was able to find them all… I love the different Pokemon in the photo,” wrote another.

See if you can find the bananas as quickly as possible. Then see how you did with the puzzle.

6

ONLY geniuses have been able to discover the hidden apples in a field of tomatoes.

The tricky puzzle has left many puzzle players stumped as they take up the challenge.

6

The Hungarian artist Gergely DudasKnown online as Dudolf, created a brainteaser that looked simple at first glance.

Dudolf started creating his challenges during the lockdown and fans are left scratching their heads.

He recently planted a field of tomatoes that were close together, some of whom were laughing or making funny faces.

But in plain sight, three apples are looking right at you.

With only small differences between a tomato and an apple, you need a high IQ to solve the puzzle.

Those up for the challenge have just 10 seconds to solve it.

If you need a hint, focus on the stems of each fruit and see if anything stands out.

6

When you're done, see if you can find the four mice and five mushrooms among the autumn leaves in less than 10 seconds.

6

This is another Dudolf creation that allows readers to test their intelligence.

At first glance, there are vibrant autumn leaves superimposed on each other. The autumn colors of orange, yellow, black and green are spread across the entire photo.

The dense canopy makes it almost impossible to find the sneaky mice and hidden mushrooms that are also in the photo.

Like the previous puzzle, readers have just 10 seconds to find them.

If you need a hint, slowly scan the photo and see if you notice anything.

If you think you have found the answer, please feel free to check your answer.

6

Try another puzzle and see if you can spot all three bananas in 19 seconds.

6

This creation by Dudolf tests the vision of the puzzle players and shows how quickly they can discover the obvious.

This playful drawing shows a photo full of Pikachus, a popular children's character from the Pokemon series.

In the photo, some characters wear hats, some make cute faces, and others even wear disguises.

But in the sea of ​​yellow cartoons there are bananas waiting to be discovered, and players only have 19 seconds to do so.

Very few have managed to solve this puzzle within the time slot.

People have taken over Facebook to confess that they couldn't beat the clock in looking for the three bananas.

“I haven't found one yet but every time I look back I see another Pikachu doing something I hadn't noticed before lol,” someone commented.

“Very cute!! I found the first one and then kind of forgot I was looking for bananas [laughing] But eventually I was able to find them all… I love the different Pokemon in the photo,” wrote another.

See if you can find the bananas as quickly as possible. Then see how you did with the puzzle.

6

Other than some discoloration, it showed no visible microbial or mold growth.

Washington: NASA has shared the “daring story of two rogue tomatoes” lost eight months ago aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by astronaut Frank Rubio due to lack of gravity. Rubio accidentally lost track of the tomatoes while harvesting for the eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS) experiment he conducted aboard the space station in 2022, the US space agency said on X.

The fruit was found dried out and slightly squashed in a plastic bag.

Other than some discoloration, it showed no visible microbial or mold growth.

“One small step for tomatoes, one giant leap for the plant,” read the message.

“Two rogue tomatoes were recovered after roaming the station for almost a year. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio accidentally lost the fruit while harvesting for XROOTS, an experiment using plants without soil,” it added.

Growing food is one of many studies ripe for long-duration spaceflight missions to the moon and Mars. The XROOTS experiment uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil or other growing media and could provide suitable solutions for plant systems needed for future space exploration missions.

Although the rogue tomatoes found in the XROOTS experiment will not return to Earth for analysis because they were discarded, plant research continues aboard the space station with Plant Habitat-03, returning to Earth during upcoming landing of SpaceX’s 29th commercial resupply mission.

Rubio, who spent a record 371 days aboard the ISS, also conducted another a-peeling experiment for the VEG-05 study, which helps address the need for a continuous fresh food production system in the space.

In addition to furthering research, astronauts report that there are psychological benefits to the time they spend gardening, increasing their quality of life in space and boosting their morale.

By A. James for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:48 PM EST, November 27, 2023 | Updated: 02:41 EST, November 28, 2023

In some parts of the world, food shopping can cost a small fortune. 

Food inflation, with food prices rising in countries around the globe over the past year, is partly to blame. 

Some supermarkets, however, are expensive due to their remote location, and the cost incurred in shipping goods to their shelves. Others are pricey simply because they peddle luxury products. 

TikTokers have taken it upon themselves to document these sky-high prices, filming their trips to grocery stores and supermarkets everywhere from Los Angeles to Switzerland. Here are some of the eye-watering prices they’ve encountered on these shopping trips… 

ALASKA 

Remote Alaska is abundant with wildlife and picturesque views, but the sky-high grocery prices might put you off visiting. 

One TikToker, Christine Kesteloo, shared a video of the supermarket shelves at the AC Fairway Market, in the tiny city of Skagway in the southeast of Alaska. ‘There’s only one grocery store in Skagway… prices are crazy here,’ she declares in the clip. 

Due to its remote location, the shelves are only restocked on a weekly basis, she notes. Some of the pricy items she filmed included a frozen pizza for $14.49 (£12), a pack of Babybel cheeses for $11.99 (£10), milk for $6.99 (£6) and a box of mango dried slices for close to $9 (£7). 

In contrast, customers in the U.S can head to Walmart to purchase a pizza for as little as $4 (£3), while a six-ounce bag of mango slices costs $4.77 (£4). Babybel cheeses are $6.98 (£5.70) and milk is priced from as little as $1.82 (£1.50). 

The content creator said she was particularly shocked at the price of Miracle Whip mayonnaise for $9.49 (£8) – whereas Walmart sells the same product for $4.72 (£4). 

LOS ANGELES 

Several TikTokers have turned their cameraphones on the Erewhon Market chain of organic grocery stores in Los Angeles. These stores are a hotspot for tourists, influencers and the mega-rich, who are regularly papped walking to their cars in the valet-equipped parking lot. 

Shoppers could easily splash out hundreds in one trip, with $20 (£16) strawberries and $16 (£13) mushrooms for sale. For comparison, in Walmart, the cheapest strawberries are $2.72 (£2.24) and mushrooms are $2.08 (£1.78).

Unsurprisingly, many on social media label it as the ‘world’s most expensive grocery store’.  

One TikToker, known online as Shawnthefoodsheep, took his 194,700 followers along with him for lunch at the ‘boujee’ grocery store. 

Shawn spared no expense and spent a total of $64.99 (£53) on four items, purchasing ‘Hamachi Fire’ sushi for $20 (£16), a $15 (£12) chipotle sandwich, a $10.99 (£9) vegan brownie and a $19 (£16) ‘Bella Hadid Smoothie’, made using a recipe shared by supermodel Hadid with the upmarket supermarket. 

The now-viral TikTok has gained hundreds of comments from outraged users, with some even sharing their own experiences of the store. One user wrote: ‘I had a bottle of water, a salad, chips and some fruits for $115 (£95),’ while an alleged ex-employee said that customers used to order Erewhon smoothies on Uber Eats for a total of $25 (£21).

Another TikToker, who goes by the name ‘Mister Lewis’, filmed his own trip to the supermarket, where he purchased a $25 (£21) bottle of water, $15 (£12) eggs, $20 (£17) milk, $28.99 (£25) bread, $20 (£17) butter, among other breakfast food items – with his total bill coming to more than $440 (£362). 

For contrast, you can buy organic eggs for $4.94 (£4) and sourdough bread for $4.48 (£3.70) at Walmart.  

LONDON 

One TikToker has described Panzer’s, a deli in London’s St John’s Wood neighbourhood, as the ‘Erewhon of London’, in reference to the pricey LA grocery store. 

In a video, Travel TikToker Victoria noted that the prices in the shop, which is near Abbey Road Studios, are ‘similar to Erewhon and the food is just as unique’.

British TikToker Lucy visited Panzer’s and was taken aback when she was charged £3.50 ($4.20) for a single large tomato, she claims. In a video, she told her followers: ‘I actually didn’t know it was going to be that much – I got to the till and was like “oh, okay”.’

By comparison, a pack of six salad tomatoes from Asda is priced at £0.85 ($1).  

Lucy admitted the shop has high-quality produce, however, saying: ‘It’s not a cheap shop but it’s a really nice experience.’ 

Responding to Lucy’s video, a commenter named Rochelle said: ‘I went here by accident a few years back and paid £10 for strawberries. I just handed the money over in shock, honestly.’ Aldi, meanwhile, charges £1.69 ($2) for strawberries. 

CAYMAN ISLANDS 

Content creator Hannah Fowler lives in the Cayman Islands and shared a video of her trip to a local supermarket, describing the prices as ‘crazy high’. In the footage, she explains that ‘fruit is so expensive because we have to import it’, noting that apples are priced at $4 (£3), blackberries at $8 (£7) and strawberries at $14 (£12). Milk is also on the pricier side at $8 (£7) and salmon is $15 (£12) per pound, the video reveals. 

To compare, in the UK you can purchase milk for £1.45 ($1.70), a pack of salmon fillets for £4.60 ($5.50) and six apples for £0.99 ($1.20) at Asda. 

Since Hannah’s video was posted, the clip has gained over 500,000 views and hundreds of comments, with one person asking: ‘How do people survive?’

Another Cayman Islands native, who goes by the TikTok username ‘IslandGirl’, says that the expense of grocery shopping on the islands is ‘one of the drawbacks’ to living there. Sharing a video of her purchases from Fosters grocery store in Grand Cayman, she says: ‘Here we have two bags of groceries, some potatoes and one twelve pack of [soft] drinks. It was $147 (£121).’

She adds: ‘There are some great things about living in Cayman, but the price of groceries is not one of them.’

NEW YORK  

Those trying to save their pennies on a visit to New York should avoid the upscale grocery store Citarella, TikToker Jack Goldburg, who goes by the username JacksDiningRoom, has suggested. 

In a video filmed at the store, shared with his 400,000 followers, he says: ‘We are at the most expensive grocery store in all of New York City trying the most expensive items – we just spent $100 (£82) on lunch.’ 

Jack bought six items to try, starting with $22 (£18) pigs in blankets, followed by a $30 (£25) box of turkey slices. The latter, he said, were ‘pretty juicy but not worth [the money]’. 

Reviewing a $21 (£17) box of pistachios, over five times the price of Walmart’s pistachios, Jack said they were ‘chewy and warm’. 

He also spent $20 (£16) for six chicken meatballs, $10 (£8) on a half-empty box of crisps and $8 (£7) on a detox juice drink. 

Meanwhile in Walmart, 2lbs (907g) worth’ of frozen meatballs are $7.32 (£6) and crisps are priced from $1.78 (£1.50).

SWITZERLAND 

According to the World Population Review, Switzerland has the second-highest cost of living in the world, with many TikTokers complaining about the price of grocery products in the country. 

One TikToker revealed in a video that a food shop for five days’ worth of products for her family came to 250 Francs, which converts to around $277 or £231. 

One user commented: ‘That is the most annoying part about living here. Food is super expensive.’ While another agreed that shopping in Switzerland leaves you ‘broke’. 

Meanwhile, TikToking travellers Meg and Rhys took to their shared account – ‘theordinaryadventurers’ – to joke about how all they could buy in a Swiss supermarket for £10 ($12) was a single packet of biscuits. ‘They weren’t even fancy,’ the couple added. 

In the UK’s Asda chain, shoppers could get a packet of biscuits for as little as £0.50 ($0.60).  

CANADA 

One TikToker was so fed up with the cost of her weekly food shop in Canada that she started crossing the border into the U.S to go grocery shopping in a bid to save money. 

Brandi Dustin, who lives in Roosville, British Columbia, travels to Eureka, Montana, once a week to buy her groceries at Watson’s supermarket – and shares her savings on TikTok. 

On a recent trip, Dustin estimated that she saved $55 CAD ($39 USD/£33) crossing the border, including gas and travel expenses, and said she saw the biggest savings on meat and dairy products, which are much cheaper in the U.S.

TikTok users have been quick to support Brandi, flooding her comment section with praise. One person wrote: ‘It’s all cheaper. Gas included. What a rip off.’

Last week, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government said the country’s five major supermarket chains, including Walmart and Costco, had made ‘initial commitments’ to help stabilize food prices.

The grower claims that tomatoes worth Rs 2.5 lakh were stolen from her farm in Hassan district on the night of July 4.

Karnataka: Amid skyrocketing tomato prices, reaching over Rs 100 per kg, a bizarre case has emerged from Karnataka where unidentified individuals stole tomatoes worth Rs 2.5 lakh from a farm in Hassan district. The incident took place on July 4.

Dharani, a farmer’s wife, was left in shock and tears when she found her farm in Goni Somanahalli village empty, with all the produce stolen. Upon discovering the theft, she immediately reported the incident to Halebeedu Police Station and filed a complaint.

The grower claims that tomatoes worth Rs 2.5 lakh were stolen from her farm in Hassan district on the night of July 4.

Karnataka | Farmer claims that tomatoes worth Rs 2.5 lakhs were stolen from her farm in Hassan district on the night of July 4.

A female farmer, Dharani, who grew tomatoes on 2 hectares of land, said they planned to cut the crop and take it to market because the price… pic.twitter.com/fTxcZIlcTr

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2023

She further stated that the thieves also destroyed the remaining standing crop.

“We suffered huge losses in the bean crop and had taken out loans to grow tomatoes. We had a good crop and prices were also high. Apart from stealing 50-60 sacks of tomatoes, the thieves also destroyed the remaining crop, according to ANI .

The police have it bent over and looking for the thieves who stole and took away the produce of the poor farmer, who grew it with her blood and sweat. Further details on the case are being worked out.

Tomato Prices

Meanwhile, the current price of tomatoes rises above Rs 100 in Bengaluru and ranges between Rs 100-120 per kg. The rising prices can be attributed to the lower production of tomatoes due to the lack of rain this year in certain parts of Karnataka and the higher cost of fertilizers.

Also in Mumbai, tomato prices hit a record high of Rs 160 per kg and Rs 120 in the national capital due to the interruption of supply from the producing centers due to rainfall.

Data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs shows that the average selling price across India was 83.29 rupees per kilogram, with an average price of 100 rupees per kilogram.

New Delhi: Retail prices for tomatoes in the country’s major cities have risen to 155 per kg due to supply disruption caused by the region’s heavy monsoon rains. In major cities, retail tomato prices ranged from 58 to 148 rupees per kilogram, with Mumbai charging the lowest at Rs 58 and Kolkata the highest at Rs 148, according to a report in the Mint.

Price in other cities

Prices were 110 and 117 rupees per kilogram in Delhi and Chennai respectively. The data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs shows that the average selling price across India was Rs 83.29 per kilogram, with the median price being Rs 100 per kilogram.

“We bought the best quality tomato from €120 per kg from Azadpur wholesale market and sell it up €140 per kg in retail,” local seller Jyotish Kumar Jha in Paschim Vihar told PTI about the price of tomatoes.

When will tomato prices drop?

The good news is that production costs can drop with the start of the harvest season, which runs from July to November. Tomato production has decreased by 0.4% from 20,694 (‘000 tons) in 2021-2022 to 20,621 (‘000 tons) according to the first projections for 2022-2023, according to the statistics, as a report in PTI noted.

What does the CPI data show?

India’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation fell significantly in May, to 4.25 percent, its lowest point in 25 months, remaining below the Reserve Bank of India’s maximum tolerance ceiling of 6 percent for a third consecutive month. Retail inflation fell from 7.04% in the same month a year earlier (May 2022) to 4.7% in May and to 4.7% in April 2023.

Prices of vegetables in Bangalore

Due to the lack of rain, vegetable prices in Bengaluru have risen since last week. At the KR market in Bengaluru, tomatoes that were once sold for Rs 20 or Rs 30 per kilo are now sold for Rs 80. Similarly, carrots are also sold for Rs 60 per kg, while okra (ladies finger) is now being offered for Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kilogram.

Tomato prices had risen to more than Rs 80 per kg in several places in the country last week.

Price increase tomatoes: Prices of essential vegetables such as tomatoes will skyrocket to over Rs 100 per kilo due to the severe supply shortage, according to a report by The Hindu on Monday. Tomato prices had skyrocketed to over Rs 80 per kg last week. According to the report, a 15 kg box of tomatoes was sold for Rs 1,100 at the Kolar wholesale market APMC on Sunday.

Why have tomato prices increased?

It should be noted that the delayed monsoon and the possibility of weak rainfall in different parts of the country lead to higher prices for vegetables.

“Tomato sowing this year is lower than previous years for several reasons. Many farmers in Kolar switched to beans this year as the price of beans skyrocketed last year. But due to poor monsoons, crops have dried up and withered.” Anji Reddy, a tomato grower from Kolar, told The Hindu.

Tomato prices have fallen to Rs 3-5 per kg

Tomato prices collapsed to Rs 3-5 per kg last month, forcing several growers to throw away their produce by driving tractors through the crop.

With a tomato shortage in Maharashtra, buyers are moving to West Bengal, Odisha and even for export to Bangladesh to meet the demand.

Tomato prices double in Delhi’s Azadpur

Tomato prices have doubled in the past two days at Delhi’s Azadpur wholesale market. A tomato trader told Economic Times that they are not getting enough tomatoes from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana due to shortage and are now dependent on Bengaluru for supply.

Not only tomatoes, but also the prices of other vegetables, except onions and potatoes, have gone north. A kg of beans costs between Rs 120 and Rs 140, and the prices of some varieties of carrots are reaching Rs 100. Bell pepper prices have crossed Rs 80 per kg. Moreover, egg prices have increased in the range of Rs 7 – Rs 8 kilos.