The mango season has arrived at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi, Navi Mumbai — one of the largest wholesale markets in Mumbai. However, some traders are warning customers about counterfeit Konkan Hapus (Alphonso) mangoes being sold in the market.
The issue has worsened as low-quality mangoes from Karnataka are being passed off as the premium Konkan variety. These look similar, causing unaware buyers to pay higher prices for inferior quality mangoes.
Every day, over one lakh (100,000) boxes of Hapus mangoes are transported to the Vashi APMC market. Around 80,000 of these come from Devgad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad — regions famous for authentic Alphonso mangoes.
The wholesale price of raw Konkan Alphonso mangoes ranges from INR 1,500 to INR 3,500 per box — approximately INR 400 to INR 800 per dozen. According to a report by Hindustan Times, these mangoes are sold in retail markets for INR 1,000 to INR 1,800 per dozen.
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In contrast, lower-quality mangoes from Karnataka are much cheaper, priced between INR 60 to INR 120 per kilo in the wholesale market. Around 15,000 to 20,000 boxes of these mangoes are brought in daily, mostly from Karnataka, with a few from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In retail markets, they are sold for around INR 400 to INR 500 per dozen.
As the mango season peaks, the market is filled with different varieties of Alphonso mangoes. Fruit sellers highlight clear differences in quality, aroma, and pricing between authentic Konkan Alphonsos and their cheaper counterparts.
However, some retailers are taking advantage of unsuspecting buyers by selling Karnataka mangoes at inflated prices, falsely labeling them as genuine Konkan Hapus.