What is the current price for a massive basket of tomatoes in Mile 12 market?

The price of a massive woven basket of tomatoes in Mile 12 market fluctuates wildly based on the season fuel prices and transportation costs from Northern Nigeria. During the harvest season (around December to March) a massive basket of firm Jos tomatoes can cost between 15,000 and 25,000 Naira. However during the rainy season or periods of severe fuel scarcity the price of that exact same basket can skyrocket to between 60,000 and 95,000 Naira. To get the absolute best wholesale price you MUST arrive at Mile 12 market very early specifically between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM. This is when the heavy trucks from the North offload their goods and you can buy directly from the wholesale importers before the local market women buy them and add their retail markup.

When buying a massive basket of tomatoes you must be extremely vigilant about the packing technique used by the sellers. It is a notorious market trick to place large perfectly firm tomatoes at the very top of the basket while filling the middle and bottom layers with squashed rotten or excessively watery tomatoes. Before you negotiate the final price you must demand that the seller "turns" the basket or allow you to dig your hands deep into the bottom to inspect the quality. Furthermore the type of tomato matters. The oval shaped "Jos" tomatoes are thicker have less water and are far better for cooking rich party stew compared to the round watery local varieties which are cheaper but sour.

I bought a big basket at Mile 12 last week for 45,000 Naira. If you are buying for a party always buy it on a Tuesday or Wednesday. On Fridays the prices jump by almost 20 percent because the market is flooded with caterers preparing for weekend weddings.

Do not forget to negotiate the price of the actual woven basket itself. The sellers will charge you the price of the tomatoes and then demand an extra 1,500 Naira for the physical basket you are carrying it away in. Factor that into your budget.

To avoid the rotten tomatoes at the bottom trick I always buy from the sellers who spread their tomatoes on the massive tarpaulins on the floor. You can pick exactly the firm ones you want and they measure it into a basket for you in plain sight.