First lot of mangoes arrive ahead of season

Kothrud residents have seen the first glimpse of alphonso mangoes much ahead of the upcoming summer season. City based desai bandhu ambewale, who always get success in bringing in the first alphonso mangoes in the city, has also repeated the pattern in kothrud too.
The first two dozens of Alphonso mangoes were sold to a sand trader in the city some three weeks ago and just a week after, the pattern has been replicated in Kothrud, a fast developing suburb of the city.
"Mere putting the board 'Ambe Ale Ahet' (Mangoes have arrived) outside the shop was enough for the customers to lure into the shop for buying the mouth-watering fruit. Baramati based customer on their way home noticed the board and instantly bought all the fruits available in the shop," said Vasant Desai, owner of Desai Bandhu Ambewale.
The present rates of the mangoes are sky rocketing with each single mango costing at Rs 500. Around 20 mangoes are sold every day with an inflow of cash of Rs 10,000.
The mango lovers need not panic as more mangoes will start coming in to the city after Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year day) that falls on March 23, Desai informs. This year rates will oscillate between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000 per dozen depending on weight of the fruits. The mangoes are categorised according to their weight and texture of the fruits as any black spot on the fruit skin disqualifies it.
The popular brand name, Desai Bandhu Ambewale in the city, has been dealing in the mangoes since 1932. "In 1937, my father once ventured into selling mangoes in Karachi, which was then part of the Bombay Province. After a couple of successful dealings, he suffered heavy losses as the ship took little longer than necessary time that resulted in rotting of the whole lot. He confined his territory to the city thereafter," smiles Desai.
The mangoes get more response in Kothrud than in the main city, may be openness of the place added with an ample parking space attracts the mango eaters here, informs Desai.
The season starts early in Maharashtra than in North India due to varied climatic conditions, he informed. The Alphonso mangoes are very delicate in nature and needs special care while handling it, he told. One should pick it up in index finger and thumb as handling it will take away its entire fragrance, he tells, adding, "My father used to be very angry if anyone handled the mango in the wrong way."
When Cityplus asked them how they manage to be the first one to bring the mangoes to the city every year, he responded, "We have big Ambrais (huge mango orchards) at Pawas village near Ratnagiri in Konkan. Every season, we deal in more than 7,000 boxes of four dozens each. Initially it takes five months for entire procedure of ripening of mangoes right from bearing of blossoms. Later on, with climate becoming hotter, the process becomes less time taking and is shorten to three months," Desai concluded.

--Sanjeevani Didmishe