Ever since we came online last week, people asked us a lot of questions, ranging from prices of our Alphonso, grades, delivery, etc. One question, which came up a lot was whether our Alphonso would be priced lower than the market price. We were kinda eager to know what the customers were comparing us with or had based their benchmark on. So we decided to do a test drive in Pune, to check out the mangoes being sold in the market there. We went into the mandis and also walked into the malls! The rates started upwards of Rs 500 per dozen, but more than that we were really appalled at the quality that was being sold.
Here are two of the mango we purchased that were being sold as Alphonso.
For reference to the size of the mango, we placed it on the palm of one of us
Now please observe the image of the two mangoes. See the wrinkles on the mangoes. This is a clear indication that these mangoes are overripe! Now see the green tinge still there at the base of these mangoes. Alphonso which ripens naturally would never have a green color. These mangoes are overripe and still have a green tinge. You would never see such mangoes pass our quality criteria.
We knew what these mangoes were, but it was time to cut these mangoes and have them pose for a photo.
This is the state of the mangoes, which the person at the store told us was the best Alphonso. We tasted the side of the mango which was comparatively good. And it tasted awful. Nowhere close to the taste of the Alphonso.
Alphonso, or for that matter, any fruit is Nature’s creation. At times, though rarely, even a perfectly great looking Alphonso fruit can turn out to be bad from inside. Why that happens is a question no one can answer. That’s Nature’s creation and only Nature knows it.