Americans go crazy for Indian mangoes:Pay as high as ₹466 a piece; demand soars for Alphonso, Kesar, Chausa Langra

A craze for Indian mangoes is being witnessed in the US. People are tracking flights carrying mango shipments. All pre-orders were sold out even before the first shipment arrived in April. People are willing to spend up to ₹5,600 for a box of 10-12 mangoes. The same box was available for around ₹3,700-4,200 last year. Mangoes have become expensive by up to 33%. The major reason for this is the increase in oil prices after the Iran war and expensive shipping. Price of Indian mangoes increased from ₹4,200 to ₹5,600 per box in one year Due to fewer flights, some shipments were delayed or cancelled, which further increased the cost. While Mexican mangoes available year-round in American grocery stores can be found for around ₹945, people consider Indian mangoes different in taste and sweeter. Maharashtra’s Alphonso, Gujarat’s Kesar, North India’s Chausa and Langra, and South India’s Banganapalli are the most preferred varieties there. US ban on Indian mangoes lifted in 2007 after decades India supplies half of the world’s mangoes, yet it remained banned in America for decades. The reason was ‘hot-water treatment’ (killing insects with hot water), which would spoil Indian mangoes. Additionally, there was pressure from the South American lobby. Later, ‘gamma radiation’ (sterilizing through rays) technology became the solution. After an agreement between the then president George Bush and PM Manmohan Singh in 2006, Indian mangoes officially reached America in 2007. American customers loyal, mango pass in high demand The most loyal customers of Indian mangoes are now becoming American citizens themselves, while Indian expatriates often express displeasure at its prices. Seeing the huge demand, companies like ‘GG Mango’ are offering a ‘mango pass’ for the entire season at $1,000 (approximately ₹94,000). Now preparations are underway to sell it through major retailers like Walmart and Costco as well.