Haq semango: Alphonso remains king

Atour of the mandi reveals that there''s no fruit like mango and no mango like the Alphonso!
There are close to 150 shops selling mangoes in Market Yard. Gaffar Bagban of the India Fruit company at Market Yard says, "Alphonsoes remain favourites. We sell anywhere betweem 40 to 50 petis a day. In fact we don''t even sell any other varieties, because given a choice people only go for Alphonso.That too either the Ratnagiri hapus or Devgad hapus."
One peti (four dozen) of Devgad costs between Rs 600 and Rs 800 while the Ratnagiri is about Rs 500 to Rs 650. But in spite of the rising prices due to a lesser supply, the Alphonso remains the reigning favourite. The supply this year has been much lesser than last year.
In fact Vasantrao Desai one of the largest mango retailers informs that last year''s produce had broken all records. "The rainfall was really good last year and the produce was prolific. It was quite a record. But this year it''s not been as good. However, this has not resulted in any fall in demand." Their outlet at Shanipar is buzzing with buyers. So when Desai says there is no time to talk on phone during the mango season, there is no debating the fact. He goes on to say, "We sell anywhere between 100 to 150 petis a day."
While most buy the fruit for its taste, there are some who buy a mango a day for its medicinal value. Incidentally even Bal Gandharva was asked to eat a mango everyday for health reasons.
Adds Desai, "The vitamins in mangoes can be stored and used by the body as and when required. Which is why, several people buy just one mango a day."
Datta Pawar of A1 fruit stall says, "During the citrus fruit season there is huge demand, bananas are always selling, but the mango season is the time to make money.
While there are many varieties of mango like the Nilam, Totapuri, Lalbaug, Langda, Dasseri... Alphonsos are where big business is. It is during this season that I make the maximum profit."
Even though it is in May that the asli season begins, mangoes come into the market well before. Till then, they are matured in carpets.
anuradha.kher@timesgroup.com