What do North Indian weddings have to do with pineapple prices in Kerala?

Why would a wedding in Delhi or Jaipur matter to a pineapple farmer in Kerala? Because right now, it does. As North India slips into peak wedding season, Kerala’s pineapples are seeing a sudden surge in demand, and prices have followed, climbing to Rs 44 per kg in wholesale markets.

At the Vazhakulam market, raw pineapples were recently priced at Rs 37-39 per kg, while ripe fruit touched Rs 42–44 per kg, according to the All Kerala Pineapple Merchants Association. Traders say the explanation lies in scale. Weddings up north mean large caterers, bulk orders and predictable demand, and pineapples have emerged as a reliable choice at a time when other fruits are hard to source.

Oranges and watermelons, usually staples on wedding menus, are currently in short supply. Pineapple, with its steady availability and versatility, has stepped into the gap. The result is a clear pull from northern markets that is being felt strongly in Kerala’s pineapple hubs.

Timing has added another layer to the story. With Ramadan approaching, some farmers planned their harvests accordingly, limiting the volume of fruit released into the market at once. Reduced supply met rising demand, and prices rose quickly.

In the fields, however, farmers are grappling with the downside of summer. Prolonged heat has reduced fruit weight, leaving mostly B and C grade pineapples for sale. “When we expect 10 tonnes, we don’t even get five,” says Thomas P Mathew, Kottayam president of the Pineapple and Rubber Growers Association, pointing to how extreme temperatures are cutting yields.

Growers say prices have not climbed this sharply in nearly ten years. Controlled output in large plantations has created what they describe as an artificial shortage, while consistent buying from North India has kept rates firm. For now, weddings far away are shaping fortunes much closer to home.

Still, farmers warn that this phase may be short-lived. With little infrastructure to protect crops from heat stress, they are struggling to sustain production. Government support is essential, says Joji Valiplackal, president of the Central Travancore Rubber and Pineapple Growers Association, if the current market boost is to translate into long-term stability.