Mangoes make entry into Mumbai market

APMC in Vashi on Monday received the first batch of Devgad alphonsos of the season. A small batch of four boxes had arrived from Kunkeshwar town of Sindhudurg district

For those eagerly awaiting mangoes, here’s some good news. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi on Monday received the first batch of Devgad alphonsos of the season. A small batch of four boxes had arrived from Kunkeshwar town of Sindhudurg district.

Initially the price of mangoes is high in the market as the season is yet to start. File pic

Traders at the market revealed that the each box containing 6 dozen mangoes was sold to retailers for a price between Rs 10,000 and Rs 11,000. According to traders, mangoes from Devgad are among the first to arrive in the market as these are from the blossoms in the month of August.

These flowers fall due to rains after which the farmers yield the mangoes by putting a green net around the trees. As a result of this, these arrive in the month of January, they added. Sanjay Pansare, director of the fruit market at APMC, said, “The Devgad alphonsos usually start arriving before the season of mangoes starts.

This is mainly due to early yielding in that region. But the actual supply of mangoes from rest of the regions of Maharashtra will commence from February 15.” Traders further added that initially the price of mangoes is high in the market as the season is yet to take-off.

However, by the end of April the rates will fall to as low as Rs 500-Rs 600 per box when the supply is ample in the market. During the peak season APMC fruit market gets over 400-500 trucks of mangoes per day. Alphonso mangoes are produced in many regions of the state including Ratn-agiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad and Pune district.