New Delhi, July 21: Fulfilling a heartfelt wish, a Dubai-based Indian expat flew back to India with an extraordinary cargo – 10 kilograms of tomatoes packed in kitchen storage containers. The woman, who was returning home for her children’s summer holidays, had asked her mother what she wanted from Dubai. To her surprise, her mother’s request was for tomatoes, given their soaring prices in the country.
The expat’s sister, known as Revs on Twitter, shared the amusing incident: “My sister is coming to India from Dubai for her children’s summer holidays, and she asked my mum if she wanted anything from Dubai, and my mother said bring 10 kilos of tomatoes. And so now she has packed 10 kg tomatoes in a suitcase and sent it. Apparently, she put it in big Pearlpet dabbas (boxes) and put the dabbas in a suitcase and brought them.”
This heartwarming tale quickly went viral on Twitter, garnering over 53.2k views, with many users curious about storage and customs regulations. In response to queries about the tomatoes’ shelf life, Revs explained that the family plans to use the 10 kg package to make pickles and chutneys, among other things, as they consume a “ridiculous amount” of tomatoes.
Netizens praised the Dubai-based expat for her dedication to fulfilling her mother’s wish, especially amidst the current tomato price surge in India. Prices have recently skyrocketed from an average of Rs 20 per kg to as high as Rs 250 per kg in certain regions of the country.
Amidst the tomato scarcity and rising prices, customs officials have even intercepted smuggled tomatoes from Nepal. The price difference between the two countries has led to illegal cross-border trade, with tomatoes costing significantly less in Nepal.
Experts speculate that the surge in tomato prices is due to delayed monsoons, high temperatures, and reduced production in recent times. Additionally, heavy rains have further contributed to the significant spike in prices.
The touching gesture of this expat daughter bringing home tomatoes in her suitcase has warmed the hearts of many on social media, earning her praise for being an exceptional daughter during these challenging times of inflation.
