Most of India's mango export to Europe is done via air as they are ready to eat varieties, Deccan produce exports 150-200 tonnes per year.
Indian mangoes were banned from entering Europe at the end of last season due to phsytosanitary reasons, but Shetty says that business now will be better, "The ban has formalized a procedure for quality fruits to get to Europe. It will discourage fly by night operators, both in the short and long-term we expect the ban to have had positive effects on the quality and volumes going to Europe."
He expects Indian mangoes to become more recognized in the future and to develop and niche market and better acceptability.
"I do not view this ban negatively, I think it was a fair thing to do in order to insist on adherence to certain quality norms. Not that all mangoes exported were bad, but there were some bad apples (or mangoes in this case). This ban has formalized a method to ship only quality fruit and in that sense it helps the mango industry in India and all exporters will gain in that sense," explains Shetty.
He goes on to say that he sees a bright future for Indian mangoes, with the early mangoes fetching a good price on the domestic market to the extent that they are too expensive to export, only later in the season when the Alphonso mango price drops is it worth doing.
"Overall I think if the weather stay good, its happy days for the Indian mango grower," concludes Shetty.
For more information:
Nagesh ShettyDeccan Produce
Tel: 91-22-28346281
Email:sales@deccanproduce.com
www.deccanproduce.com