Washington, June 10: There is a remarkable surge in the demand for Indian mangoes across the United States. From Seattle to Los Angeles and New Jersey to Washington D.C., varieties like Kesar, Alphonso, and Langra are flying off the shelves of major retail stores within hours of arrival.
Vinay Kwatra, India’s Ambassador to the U.S., states that the rising popularity of Indian mangoes is not just tied to the nostalgia of the Indian diaspora. More Americans are beginning to appreciate the unique flavors of these fruits.
For decades, Indian-Americans traveled to India during the summer to savor Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, and Dasheri mangoes, bringing back memories to the U.S. Now, these mangoes are readily available in large retail stores, allowing people thousands of miles away to enjoy their taste.
Kwatra mentioned in a recent conversation ahead of a mango festival organized by the Indian Embassy in Washington, “For Indians living in America, mangoes are an integral part of summer memories. The taste of summer vacations is intertwined with mangoes.”
He added that it is a joyous development that flavors and memories once exclusive to India are now easily accessible in American stores.
A recent example of the growing popularity of Indian mangoes was seen in Seattle, where the Indian Consulate hosted the second edition of the “Mango Magic” event. Over 100 importers, distributors, and senior officials from major retail stores, including representatives from Costco, participated.
Attendees had the opportunity to sample seven premium varieties of mangoes from India, including Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganapalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dasheri from Uttar Pradesh, and Rajapuri mangoes from Gujarat.
Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck welcomed the increased availability of Indian mango varieties in the state. The event also saw participation from state senators, diplomats, and business leaders, and was organized with the support of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
In May, Costco made its first shipment of Indian Kesar mangoes to stores in Seattle, Las Vegas, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. According to Costco officials, the entire shipment sold out within just two hours of arriving at the stores. Such rapid sales of Indian mangoes have become a common occurrence.
Kwatra noted, “People tell me that when Costco first started selling Indian mangoes, the shelves were empty within hours. There was tremendous excitement among consumers.”
Customers have openly expressed this enthusiasm on social media, sharing information about the availability of Kesar mangoes at Costco stores in California, Washington, and New Jersey. Many have posted pictures of the mangoes, urging friends to rush to the stores before stocks run out.
One customer described Indian Kesar mangoes as “the essence of Indian summers,” while many agreed that nothing compares to their taste. Kwatra emphasized that the appreciation for Indian mangoes extends beyond just the Indian community.
India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes, yielding over 26 million metric tons annually, with more than 1,000 varieties available. The export of Indian mangoes to the U.S. resumed in 2007 after an 18-year ban and has steadily increased over the past decade.
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