“It looks good, tastes great and is fantastic for your health”- That’s the line I really miss using ever since the Koyembedu market got shut down for months together in 2020. Today, shops might be open but we’re definitely far from normal! And the dry fruits industry is no exception to this reality, with the grip of the first wave still tightly intact. Sales haven’t recovered yet, owing to the high prices and dipping demand with the only probable advantage being a longer shelf life which prevents the produce going rotten early.

But besides the state of my individual business, I believe the heart of the market lies its bustle which has been missing for a long time now. One can usually spot shops being open 24/07, labourers carrying gunny bags of materials constantly and of course, people standing in front of the tea shops to reboot the energy levels. Even within the premises of my stall, there’s usually a big crowd, flocking in from various marriage houses alongside other local vendors to purchase dry fruits for various festivities and occasions. Majority of our sales happen overnight and there’s always a sense of excitement catering to crowds even at that hour of the day!

Nevertheless, with masks and sanitization becoming the order of the day, things are different, and definitely more quieter. I understand that it’s for the larger good but sometimes I can’t help but miss the feeling of holding up our gift wrapped hampers while speaking to a client. All I hope for going forward is that people stay safe and things bounce back to normalcy soon, thereby aiding businesses to thrive like earlier.”

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