City goes bananas over mangoes this summer

CHENNAI:It is fever of a different kind. The arrival of ripe mangoes in street carts,supermarkets and shops has sparked infectious' buying among Chennaiites. "I wasstepping off the bus when I saw that the platform on this road in Royapettah wasa spread of yellow. At least five other commuters and I promptly bought thebanganapalli' mangoes," said A Raghunath of T Nagar.Prices, however,are higher compared to previous years, especially of the popular banganapallivariety. "By the first week of May last year, 300-400 tonnes of mangoes arrivedin the city. This year, it has been down to around 250 tonnes," said SSrinivasan of the Chennai Fruit Commission Agents Association. "One reason forthe lower stock is the vagaries of weather. During the flowering season, toomuch of mist will make them wither. Rains and hot days at the wrong time haveimpacted on the produce and the price," he added. The banganapalli mangoes,available for between Rs 6 and Rs 12 each last year at the wholesale market andat Rs 20 in the retail market, now cost Rs 15 and above at the wholesale market.Retailers have priced them upwards of Rs 30 each.However, that hasnot stopped people. "Just two huge mangoes measure up to a kilo on a scale butthat is enough for the entire family," said Varalakshmi Ravindran, who ishosting her two nieces for the holidays at her house in Sasthri Nagar. "Makingchildren eat healthy food is easier because they know the mango is a reward.Children actually bond over mangoes. The way they fight over the fruit and makeup with each other later is a priceless bonus," she added.Accordingto Veeran, a fruit vendor in Royapettah, "Customers bargain, but unlike othertimes of the year, they do not walk away without purchasing. The mangoes,especially the banganapalli is everyone's favourite. The preference for this hasnot taken away from the sheen of other varieties. The sleeker shaped Mallikaretailing at Rs 50 a kilo and the Alphonso varieties priced at Rs 55 are alsoavailable in the market. "I lived in Mumbai for years and am back in Chennai formy post-retirement years, and alphonsoes are must-haves' for me," said SuchitraAshok of Neelankarai. The time is ripe for everyone to go bananas overmangoes.