mumbai in a welcome sign the wholesale rates of tomato dropped in apmc vashi over friday and saturday grade 2 tomatoes sold for rs 3060 per kg as compared to rs 6070 on thursday july 13 however grade 1 tomato which is the best quality remained firm at rs 8090 per kilo said apmc director shankar pingaleretail rates remain unaffected though handcarts in goregaon west hawked small tomatoes for rs 100120 per kg while shops in nerul charged rs 130 and thane rs 150 for bigger good quality fruitonline retailers displayed a variety of desi organic and regular tomatoes for rs 130179 per kghousewives know they are in for the long haul and have either halted consumption or are purchasing barely quarter kg three tomatoes for rs 3040 one feels angry that basic food items like tomato coriander ginger and green chillies have gone out of reach said rajnish mehra of andheritomato trader mangal gupta said prices should stabilize within a month but then again farmers will get trapped and produce more in the hope of getting a bumper price it is a seesaw situation meanwhile a local circles poll claimed that 46 households surveyed are paying over rs 150 per kg for tomato it claimed 14 had stopped buying altogether while 68 had reduced consumption in maharashtra 41 respondents said they had recently paid rs 100150 per kg for tomato