The Hindu : Front Page : U.S. ban goes, but Indian mango is scarce

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Monday, Jun 15, 2009
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U.S. ban goes, but Indian mango is scarce

Houston: Despite the lifting of an 18-year ban on import of Indian mango, the “King of fruits,” is hard to find in major U.S. cities this season and Americans are waiting for its arrival eagerly.

Customers are calling up ethnic stores almost daily, but are told that Indian mangoes may not arrive this summer.

Indian-Americans are searching every where but are finding only Mexican Atoulfo’s.

After the ban was lifted, following the signing of a deal in 2006 by the then U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to enhance bilateral trade in agriculture, many people started having mango parties at weekends, just to celebrate the arrival of the fruit in the country after a long wait.

For the connoisseurs, the high price is not deterrent and is money well-spent for feasting on the best mangoes in the world.

However, this year, the fruit is hard to find in Houston, New York, California, Chicago and other cities dominated by Indian-Americans.

No specific reason is given for the shortage. Perhaps the fruit is in short supply.

It is heartbreaking for mango lovers, who have been paying through the nose, around $45 for a box of 12, just to breathe in its aroma. Sources say that though India’s mango exports have recorded a 60 per cent growth lately, traders are expecting a much lower growth in mango exports in the current season as production has declined.

“Due to inconsistent weather conditions in many parts of the mango growing States in the country, the crop has been damaged 70 per cent to 90 per cent, it is learnt,” said an Indian store owner in Houston.

According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority, mango exports to the U.S. stood at 31.7 tonnes in April 2009 compared to around 20 tonnes in the corresponding month last year. However, initial estimates by the government of India’s Agriculture Ministry suggested that crop output might be lower by around 10 per cent. — PTI

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