More Mango News: The Alphonso Cometh

As Kesav noted below, when the Indian mango industry enters the information age with the opening of an online commodities marketplace on June 15th, there will be important impacts for mango buyers both in India and abroad.

Another important development for “mango enthusiasts” occurred in late May, as the first shipments of the “particularly sweet and fragrant” Alphonso cultivar (pictured above) arrived in the Washington, DC area. As the Washington Post reported, Indian mango exports to the US had been banned by the Department of Agriculture for almost two decades due to concerns over insect pests. In order to gain entry into the US, exporters were required to setup facilities that could irradiate the fruit before it left India. Only one USDA-approved irradiation facility has been constructed but more are planned according to US retailers.

Experts stress that although Alphonsos are of significantly higher quality the “ubiquitous” mangoes grown for the US market in Mexico and Central America, the high price of this specialty fruit may turn off some Americans with less-discerning tastes. According to the WaPo, Alphonsos cost as much as five times more than their (larger) Central American brethren.

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