Fruit shelves in the supermarkets in prosperous countries are brimming with Gujarat’s mangoes that are being lapped up fast!
The export of kesar and alphonso has soared to an all-time high with 680 metric tonnes sent to the US, the UK, and Canada this season. This is a 143% increase considering that 280 metric tonnes were exported in 2022-23, according to the data of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) which works under the union ministry of commerce and industry.
Mango farmers and traders said besides the bumper production this year, the packing and irradiation facilities developed in the state, have made exports faster. Orchard owners have also realized the significance of exports. This year, the Talala Market Yard auctioned 11.13 lakh boxes (each of 10 kg) compared to 5.03 lakh boxes last year.
The mango season begins in April and ends in August and the export data was released after three months.
Data shows that the export to the UK has more than doubled compared to the previous year while there was a considerable increase in shipments to the US and Canada, where the export was nil in 2022.
Tushar Dhameliya, a mango exporter said, “Gujaratis settled in these developed countries are ordering native varieties like kesar in huge quantities. The irradiation facility started in Bavla near Ahmedabad this year has helped smoothen the export process.”
In the irradiation process, the fruits or any food meant for export are exposed to ionizing radiation to kill the microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and insects that might be present. The irradiated food does not become radioactive.
Mango growers have also benefited from the packing house near Talala where the fruits are treated with hot water, sized, and graded with an automated system.
It also has cooling facilities and specialized ripening chambers. Ramesh Siroya, secretary of APMC Talala, said, “Another reason for the robust increase in export is that the new generation of farmers understands the benefits of overseas markets. Big farmers and merchant exporters are using this pack facility to send their fruits to countries where irradiation is not mandatory unlike in the US.”