Growers of the Alphonso mango in Maharashtra's Konkan region have raised alarms over the circulation of counterfeit Hapus mangoes, urging consumers to verify the authenticity of their purchases. "All that is branded as Hapus is not Hapus – customers should exercise caution and only pay for the real produce from Konkan," emphasized Mukund Joshi, director of the Konkan Hapus Amba Utpadak Vikreta Sahakari Sangh. He advocated for the purchase of Hapus mangoes only if they bear the GI tag numbers and barcode. The region's producers have been actively safeguarding their intellectual property, emphasizing that only mangoes from Konkan can rightfully bear the Hapus or Alphonso tag, as per the granted GI tag. Any other use of 'Hapus' is illegal.
Despite a challenging season with unseasonal rains causing a drop in early fruit and flower development, Joshi noted a significant reduction in expected yield, estimating only 25-30% of the normal produce. However, a second flowering has offered some hope, albeit with increased production costs due to a thrift infestation. Contrastingly, Karnataka's mango growers have reported favorable conditions, leading to concerns over the market being flooded with non-authentic Hapus mangoes from outside Konkan. Joshi's call to action for consumers includes vigilance for GI tags and barcode scanning to ensure the authenticity of their Hapus mango purchases. The collective effort to protect the Hapus name includes over 1,700 registered farmers and processors dedicated to maintaining the integrity of this cherished fruit.
Source: indianexpress.com
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