Mango mania

This year the Alphonso mango lovers have something to look forward to. Although heavy on the pocket, it is the perfect aamsutra dream

Unlike last year, the Alphonso mangoes entered the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market early this year. Although it is still only the season of grapes, by the second week of January, the mango market had already gained momentum. Last year the produce was affected by unfavourable climactic conditions.  This year, the produce is good and the merchants are expecting to make good profit.
 Vilas Ramkrishna Dere of Siddhivinayak Fruit, APMC Fruit market informs, "This year the production of Alphonso mangoes is very good. We are expecting a good response from the buyers. As it is just the beginning of the season, we get and sell one box of mangoes every week. So far we have sold 15-20 boxes, that is 60 dozen mangoes. The current rate is around `1200 to 1500 per dozen. Customers who purchase mangoes so early do not bother about the prices as it is a matter of prestige for them to taste the early lot of mangoes. The prices may dip later on, towards April."
A merchant, on condition of anonymity, at the APMC fruit market informs, "At present we are selling raw mangoes as the season for mangoes have just begun. People who buy them have to ripen them by unnatural process. The mangoes arrive at the APMC fruit market at around 4:30 am and are sold by 6:00 am. It is advised to buy them only after February as by that time, their prices would decrease and the quality would be better too."
Sindhu Sethi, resident of Vashi, adds, "Currently, the prices are too high. This is because the season for mangoes has just begun. Gradually it should fall. Everybody loves Alphonso mangoes. They taste good only when they are ripe. I will wait for another month so that I can taste the fully ripe and tasty mangoes."

--INDIRA THAKUR