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Indian mangoes return to American table as US relaxes inspection process.
May 23, 2022

WASHINGTON: The Indian mango is back on the American table. After what was presented more than a decade ago as a (Indian) mangoes-for- (American) motorcycles deal slipped and spluttered amid bureaucratic blockades, the king of fruits commonly called 'aam' has returned to US markets following an agreement that will allow Indian inspectors to oversee quality issues. In return, New Delhi will allow import of cherries, alfalfa hay and pork from the US.

Four Indian mango varieties- Banganapalli, Kesar, Alphonso, and Himsagar- were laid out for feasting at India House on Thursday as the two side celebrated a breakthrough that could boost trade by billions of dollars at a time the global economy is struggling. 'Mangoes are a symbol of the strong bonds of friendship between India and the US. This (deal) is a reflection of the robustness and maturity in the India-US partnership. As friends, we are able to sit across, discuss and resolve challenges that come our way.' India's ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu said as US and Indian officials involved in the breakthrough shared the fruits of their labour with guests.

Indeed, it has been a long and slippery slope for the Indian mango, and Sandhu has seen it all during his four stints in US. When the first shipment of 150 boxes of Indian mangoes arrived at the JFK airport in April 2007 following an agreement made on the sidelines of the nuclear deal- a consignment described by The New York Times as 'probably the most eagerly anticipated fruit delivery ever'- it was expected to pave way a flood of fruits, particularly mangoes, from India, one of the world's largest fruit producers.

Instead, the US bureaucracy doubled down on fears of pests and bugs, insisting on elaborate US-certified irradiation processes in India that pushed the price of mangoes to $36 a dozen and above. In fact, according to one report, a listing on Amazon one time quoted price of $155.97 including shipping for a box of six alphonsos, about $26 per mango.

But it was more than pests that bugged the deal from the get-go. What New Delhi is up against is a powerful Latin-American lobby protecting its near monopoly (90 per cent) of mango imports to the US. India's share: 0.18 per cent. In fact, all the foreign members of the National Mango Board, the body responsible for marketing mangoes in the United States, are said to be from Latin-America. Lat-Am mangoes also have the advantage of easy on-road shipping into the US.

However, there is a matchless advantage New Delhi has. India is the original home of mangoes (hence its scientific name is Mangifera Indica). Even American mangoes like Haden and Keitt are derived from an Indian ancestor sent to the US from Pune in 1898. And then there is a small matter of taste and flavor that led an American fruit expert to once remark. 'India is to mangoes as Bordeaux is to wine.' It may soon be time to pop the champagne...or churn the mango lassi.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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