Chennaiites are consuming fewer man goes than earlier.
The city, where more than 700 tonnes of the king of fruits were eaten every day five years ago consumed a mere 300 tonnes a day during the peak of the season last year, considered a good harvest year, said Chennai Fruit Commission Agents' Association president S Srinivasan.
This is surprising because the fruit is considered a `super food' and contains high quantities of Vitamin A and C and other nutrients. It could be because people have become more health conscious, say some. Diabetics in particular are advised to stay away from mangoes.“During summers, we have patients coming with complaints of high blood sugar levels because they could not control their craving for mangoes. We tell them not to stock any at home and that one or two pieces once in a while are OK,“ said Madras Diabetes Research Foundation director Dr V Mohan.
Awareness about the adverse effects of artificially-ripened mangoes, which account for a significant part of the early arrivals, is also keeping many mango lovers away. Many who come to buy mangoes from street vendors say they are uncertain about the quality . “Due to artificial colouring, the taste and quality may be compromised and this is a deterrent for us to buy them off the streets,“ said one.
“By the time the good stock comes in with cheaper price tags, people have lost interest in mangoes,“ said Srinivasan.
At the Koyambedu wholesale market, there are very few mangoes on offer currently but the situation is likely to improve after April 15 when more arrivals are expected from the main mango-growing regions of Krishnagiri, Nammakal and Salem where there have been welltimed spells of rain. However, rain has been scanty in lesser known mangogrowing areas like Tiruttani and Tiruvallur in the northern parts of the state. “The rain came when the trees were flowering. The flowers were knocked off and we are facing a tough time,“ said Bharathi, who grows mangoes on 100 acres in Tiruvallur. “However, we managed to save the situation by planting different varieties of mangoes at different times. As a result, I am expecting at least 50 tonnes of yield this year against the 20 tonnes I managed last year,“ he said.
Several farmers say the way mangoes are bought is also changing and that the Koyambedu market is losing relevance. “We are losing interest in selling to middlemen and to traders in Koyambedu. People who know my farm directly buy from me,“ said Shah Jahan, a mango grower in Salem.
Buying online a safe option
For customers worried about the quality of mangoes in markets, online sites could come as a relief.
Many sites say issues of artificial colouring or sourness do not arise as they offer the best quality after segregating them from the bulk supplied to them.
BigBasket.com co-founder and chief executive officer Hari Menon said they followed a rigor ous sorting procedure. But not too many sites are offering man goes online now because “the quality is not too good“.
Rajendra Kumar of Chennai Basket.com said they expect a good haul by April-end after which 4-5 varieties will be put up for sale. “The price range will depend on the variety but will be lesser than store prices because we will only stock as per the demand and there will be no wastage,“ he said. Prices online will hover between the prices of mangoes in grocery stores and those with street vendors (whose prices may be slightly lower).
For instance, mangoes on ibuyfresh.com range from `60 to `160 a kg now, while the price range at ChennaiBasket.com goes up to `200 a kg depending on the quality.
Joseph, a representative of Frutto.com, said the demand was rising but added that they would begin selling only after a few weeks. “We are currently receiving about 15 orders a day but we shall wait to get quality mangoes.“
Many residents said they could opt for buying mangoes online as they were delivered home. Richa N of R A Puram said, “It is convenient for me and many sites also offer me the option of cancelling the order at any point even after it is delivered to my door.“
Hari Menon hoped the demand would pick up by month-end. “The volumes of mangoes sold last year through the mango mela tripled when compared to the previous year,“ he said.
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