With the Alphonso mango season underway, traders highlight the substitution of Konkan Alphonsos with those from Karnataka. Customers often pay premium prices for mangoes that visually resemble the high-demand Konkan variety.
The APMC market in Vashi receives over 100,000 Alphonso mango boxes daily. Approximately 80,000 boxes are sourced from Devgad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad. Wholesale prices for raw Konkan Alphonsos range from ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per crate, equivalent to ₹400 to ₹800 per dozen, translating to approximately $5 to $10 per dozen. Retail prices range from ₹1,000 to ₹1,800 per dozen, or about $12 to $22.
Conversely, Karnataka Alphonso mangoes are priced at ₹60-120 per kg in the wholesale market. Daily, 15,000 to 20,000 boxes are sourced mainly from Karnataka, with contributions from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Retail prices for these mangoes are ₹400-500 per dozen, approximately $5 to $6.
Trader Ankush Patil notes, "With increasing demand, consumers are sometimes sold Karnataka Alphonso mangoes under the pretext of it being Konkan Alphonso, or the two are being mixed to dupe the consumers."
Vijay Bhende advises consumers to purchase from trusted sellers, stating, "Ask them for Konkan Alphonso specifically if that is what you want, making clear that you do not want the Southern one."
Balasaheb Bhende, former APMC director, shares that the Konkan Alphonso has a distinct aroma, saffron color when cut, and a sweeter taste compared to its Karnataka counterpart. "The economics does not work out because such prices will increase further as the supply decreases."
Source: Hindustan Times