Kesar, not Hapus, is new king in US

Americans, who preferred the Alphonso since 2007, are increasingly ordering Kesar

Kesar is fast dethroning the Alphonso as the preferred Indian variety of mango in the US. Kaushal Khakkar of KB Exports, one of the three major exporters of mangoes in Maharashtra, said that the change in preference was clear.

"In 2007, when the US market opened up to Indian mangoes, we imported 50 metric tonnes of Alphonso, and 20 metric tonnes of Kesar.

Last year, 125 metric tonnes of both varieties were imported to the US. This year, we expect to export 150 metric tonnes of Kesar and just 100 metric tonnes of Alphonso."



Santosh Patil, deputy general manager of the Maharashtra State Agricultural and Marketing Board (MSAMB) told MiD DAY that the rise in Kesar sales had less to do with change of preference that it had to do with the poor Alphonso harvest this year.

"While demand has risen, this year's Alphonso yield has suffered by about 40 per cent compared to last year, due to untimely rains, widespread bacterial and fungal rots, and a unusually warm winter.
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The shortfall in supply of the Alphonso is likely to push Kesar sales upwards. Alphonso's loss is Kesar's gain," explained Patil.

Added Patil, "It is due to the delayed crop that we have exported only 25 metric tonnes of mostly Alphonso this April, as opposed to the 50 metric tonnes, which we had exported last April." The late arrival of the crop has also affected the exports to Japan.

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