CHENNAI: Mangoes started rolling into the markets in small numbers and are expensive, but vendors at the Koyambedu whole sale market are already cheering. When the harvest peaks later this month, they are likely to be all over the place – sweet, juicy, and affordable, they said.
“Now, mango frenzy is in full swing,” said D Manivannan, who owns a stall in the fruit market. The early season variety, Banganapalli, known for its sweet and juicy flesh, is selling for Rs 200 a kilogram in Koyambedu market and up to Rs 300 in the local market, while the golden yellow Sindura is being sold for Rs 160 at Koyambedu and up to Rs 200 in retail markets.
In 10 days, vendors expect to receive other varieties, including Alphonso and Totapuri. “From what we see in the farms, we know the harvest will be very good this time. With good yields, we expect the cost to come down to Rs 60-80 per kilogram of mango in peak summer,” he said. By then, the market will receive nearly 2000 tonnes of fruits – nearly double the size it receives now, he said.
With summer, the city street vendors will start squeezing mango juice for around Rs 25, and hotels and restaurants will hold mango melas dishing out novel and traditional recipes. “But this is the best season for raw mangoes that can be pickled and used for the rest of the year,” said Shanmugam R.
“We are beginning to see big, raw mangoes now,” he said.
Besides mangoes, the market is seeing an increase in the arrivals of orange (loose jacket variety), musk melons, watermelons, grapes, dragon fruit, and water apples. “Humble water apples are now a city favourite. The crisp and subtly sweet water apples are now high on demand,” said Murthy K, a vendor in Virugambakkam. “It’s the best-selling fruit on the cart,” he said.
Retail prices per kg: