Pune: Early Arrival of Alphonso Mangoes Hits Markets; Prices Range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per Box
Pune’s markets are buzzing with the early arrival of Alphonso mangoes, also known as Hapus, this season. Sourced primarily from the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, particularly Devgad taluka, and some from Ratnagiri, these prized mangoes are already making their way to the city. Traders at Pune’s Gultekdi Market report that 30 to 40 boxes, each containing 4-5 dozen mangoes, are arriving daily, with numbers expected to rise in the coming weeks.
Typically, Alphonso mangoes arrive in Pune markets by mid-March, but this year’s early harvest has brought them ahead of schedule. A trader from Gultekdi Market stated that while the sizes of the mangoes may vary, the quality remains excellent. Currently, a box of 4 dozen mangoes is priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 20,000, depending on size and quality.
Mango growers from Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri are cautiously optimistic about the season. A member of a cooperative body of growers and sellers from the Konkan region highlighted that the current arrivals are from the “jackpot” season, where farmers fetch higher prices for their produce. The early harvest is attributed to favorable weather conditions, including good rainfall in Devgad taluka.
However, growers in Ratnagiri are keeping a close watch on their orchards, which are in the fruit-formation stage. With rising temperatures, water stress could lead to fruit drop, but the recent rains have raised hopes for a good harvest.
In contrast, Karnataka’s mango season is expected to start slowly due to delayed flowering in some orchards, with significant arrivals in Pune likely only by March or April.
