T

housands of people in Greater Jakarta started to pack local markets on Monday to begin early preparations for the necessary Idul Fitri dishes ahead of the holiday that is expected to fall on July 17.

Opor ayam (chicken curry), sambal goreng ati (spicy beef liver) and semur daging (stewed meat), usually served with ketupat (rice cakes wrapped in coconut leaves pouches), as well as cookies, are among the signature dishes expected to be served during the occasion.

Evi, a 37-year-old chicken seller at Pasar Baru in Bekasi, West Java, said her chicken sales increased up to three times prior to Idul Fitri. The price of a regular sized broiler chicken, which usually costs Rp 30,000 (US$2.25) each on regular days, climbed to Rp 35,000 per chicken starting from Monday.

'€œThe sales will peak on Wednesday and Thursday when I expect to earn around Rp 10 million,'€ Evi said while cutting a chicken into pieces for some buyers.

Among the buyers was Yani, a 47-year-old Bekasi resident who decided to buy three chickens on Monday, so they would be ready to cook on Thursday.

'€œI want to avoid the crowds in the market. My freezer at home will keep the chicken meat fresh until the day,'€ Yani said, adding that she would also buy several kilograms of beef to stock in her refrigerator.

Agoy, a 62-year-old meat seller in the market who lives in Kayuringin, Bekasi, said popular dishes made of beef and liver also boost the demand for those ingredients.

'€œOther than during Ramadhan, I can only sell hundreds of kilograms of meat, but the upcoming Idul Fitri has boosted my sales to tons,'€ Agoy said, adding that he has been in the business for 40 years.

Agoy said he sold the meat for Rp 100,000 to Rp 130,000 per kilogram during Ramadhan, or around 20 percent higher than on regular days.

'€œThe price increase is expected and will not reduce demand, as most people need meat to cook for Idul Fitri,'€ he said.

While the meat and chicken will enjoy a peak in demand on Wednesday and Thursday, cookies that are popularly served as snacks have seen increasing demand since two weeks before Idul Fitri. Kastengel (cheese cookies), nastar (pineapple jam cookies), putri salju (cookies with powdered sugar), chocolate chip cookies and cheese sticks are among the most wanted cookies served in living rooms to guests.

Cookie shops in the Jatinegara Market in East Jakarta have enjoyed robust sales during Ramadhan.

The Toko Bintang cookie store, which has been in the business for five years, has seen increasing demand for the two weeks before Idul Fitri as customers flocked to the store to buy cookies in bulk.

'€œNastar and kastengel are the most favorite cookies during Ramadhan. We can sell up to 50 kilograms of both cookies per day,'€ Cici, the owner of the store, said while measuring cookies packed in plastic on a balance and busily serving the crowd of buyers.

With the help of an employee, Cici sells cookies with prices ranging from Rp 10,000 to Rp 70,000 per kilogram. The cookies come from suppliers all around Jakarta.

Ida, 46, one of the store'€™s loyal customers, said she usually bought around 30 kilograms of cookies on every purchase to resell them to her relatives and neighbors.

'€œThe store provides the cheapest sweet crispy cookie prices in this market,'€ said the resident of Warung Jati, South Jakarta.

The lucrative business of selling cookies has also created seasonal sellers.

Toko Mia is one of the stores that only offers cookies during Ramadhan. It usually only sells souvenirs and accessories.

'€œI have been doing it for seven years because the demand for cookies during Ramadhan highly increases and can give me more income,'€ the seller said. (foy)