Navi Mumbai: Though the mango season is yet to begin for Mumbaikars, Malawi mangoes from South Africa have arrived at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market. Malawi which is an offspring of Indian Alphanso mangoes, which comes to the market every year in early November, this time reached late.

The reason being cited as late flowering due to extended rains in South Africa. Within minuites of the arrival of 945 boxes of Malawi mangoes, it was all sold off to markets of Crawford, Breachcandy, Matunga, Juhu, Ghatkopar and also of Pune, Delhi and Rakjot.

Around fourteen years back, the producers in Malawi got few alphanso mango sticks from Ratnagiri which was grafted and planted across a 26 acre farm which is now around 600 acre farm. These mangoes started being imported to India since the year 2018.

In the 2018, 40 tonn mangoes had reached APMC which then costed Rs 1500 per box. In 2019, around 70 tonn mangoes reached and in 2020, due to covid only 15 tonn Malawi mangoes could be imported which costed Rs 2,500 to Rs 3000 per box.

This year, according to Sanjay Pansare, the importer of Malawi mangoes, crops yielded were late and also are of smaller size. “Indian mangoes are not available during October to December, when mangoes are harvested in Malawi. Hence there is no clash between both the seasons. This year, the smaller size mangoes were harvested more and hence the smaller size came more. Along with Malawai, 275 boxes of Tommy Atkin mangoes- a type of mangoes available only in South Africa, has also reached," Pansare added.

“Malawi mango season is expected to be there till the end of December. This Saturday 2500 boxes are expected to reach. This year the produce is less as compared to last year. From next week onwards weekly 7000 boxes are expected to reach us. Since this goes through hot water treatment, the quality of the mango is good and no wastage happens usually. Afterall, this produce is a result of a sapling from Ratnagiri itself. As the produce keeps coming in, the rates would go down but not as much as our Indian alphonsoes. Mangoes give more produce every alternate year and hence next year, the produce would be more," said Pansare, adding, “There is a huge demand for the mangoes as they are similar in taste to the famous Alphonso variety from Ratnagiri district. Retailers look forward to Malawi mangoes as both countries have different harvest windows. Since it's wedding season right now, many of them prefer using Malawi as gifting options to the guests.”

The Malawis were pruced between Rs 3000 and Rs 5000 in the wholesale market while Tommy Atkins were sold at Rs 3000 per box.