Despite exports to EU, alphonso mangoes may remain affordable

Alphonso mangoes may come to market at reasonable prices this season following an increase in mango production this year."Prices are not going to go up compared to last year," said Arvind Morde, a third-generation mango exporter in Crawford Market."In Maharashtra, mango cultivation is increasing year after year, and growers are happy to switch over from other crops," said Morde. He said that declining fuel prices would further keep prices stable.Mango-lovers feared that the fruit would become costlier, because the European Union recently lifted its ban on import of Indian mangoes.The European Union's temporary ban had come into force on 1 May 2014 and was to remain effective until December 2015, after authorities in Brussels found consignments infested with fruit flies that they feared could damage European salad crops.Ratibhai M Shah, a resident of Om Dariya Mahal in Nepean Sea Road, said, "In our family, alphonso mangoes are among the favourite fruits. Every season we not only consume them, but also distribute them among our family members in India and abroad. Generally we buy around 20 boxes of four dozen each every season. If prices hold up, we will stick to the same number. But if prices of mangoes go up this season, we would have no choice but to curtail our purchase to 16 boxes."