At its full peak and at affordable prices, plums have recently invaded most markets in Yaounde amongst which the Acacia market where vendors have made it their sole aim to generate income.
Plums have invaded most counters in the Acacia market where most vendors have indulge in the sales of plums especially retailers who buy from wholesalers in bigger markets like the Mokolo and Mfoundi market at cheaper prices in the early hours of the morning.
Some choose to retail because it has more profit than selling in bulk “I go around five in the morning in Mokolo and buy in bags before rushing down to Acacia and securing a strategic place before I start selling” says Majorie a retailer in the Acacia market.
Sold at affordable prices and in different tastes, all customers find their needs. “I purchase both sour and sweet plums because some clients even though rare prefer sour plums” adds Majorie.
Most vendors vary their sales seasonally “it is my first time selling plums I decided to try my luck this season i normally sell water melon” reveals Sorel a business woman. The market is not always fruitful as some days customers are shy to purchase plums which makes them go back with bags of plums which has started to ripe off.
However some vendors have some tricks to avoid the premature ripe of plums” I avoid keeping it under the sun or rain and when it sleeps, I conserve it with limes in order to keep it strong” says Moise a plum hawker in the Acacia market.
If some people find profit from selling raw plums, the sale of braised plums generates more profit for others. Melinda a vendor thinks” People do not have time to braise plums at home, they prefer to stop by the road and eat it with plantains. That is why i choose to braise them”.
However to secure maximum profit, some vendors engage in both “I have the two, I sell both raw and i braise plums in order to make money, when some customers purchase raw plums they always buy the braised ones to taste which is to my advantage” reveals Sonia a retailer. The sale of plums do not end in markets but extend to various quarters at the end of the day “if I have left overs, i liquidate it before going home or i bring them home and braise the rest by the road side” says Sorel a plum hawker.
Vendors both wholesalers and retailers hope to make as much profit as possible before the end of the plum season expected for mid or ending September.
