NEW YORK :A year after lifting of a ban on Indian mango imports, exporters are pressing US regulators to ease certain stringent requirements that are escalating its cost in this country so that Americans too can enjoy the king of fruits at an affordable price.
Though the Indian mangoes are among the costliest in the US, the biggest importer of the fruit with the annual consumption 250,000 tonnes, officials says the cost of a box of 12 Indian mangoes which costs between $30 and $35 could be brought down to around $15.
After lifting of the 18-year ban on the import of the fruit from India, mangoes worth $1 million were exported to the US in the past year and the figure is likely to go up to around $7 million this year, Asit Tripathy, chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (Apeda), told reporters.
He said mangoes are irradiated before being exported to the US as per the requirements of the regulators and that adds to the cost — around $150,000 per year. He expressed the hope that as the volume increases, the cost would come down.
Mr Tripathy said that Apeda, the apex body of exporters which is spearheading efforts to popularise mangoes, is discussing with regulators the possibility of the fruits being tested on arrival in the US and of random checking rather than each batch being certified separately.
Also some laboratories in India could be authorised to certify that the mangoes are safe. India, which is the biggest producer of mangoes, has two irradiation facilities already exit and another two are being set up, one in the private sector, Mr Tripathy said.
Indian mangoes need to be airlifted as due to their thin skin, their shelf life is short though irradiation increases it by a few days, he said. Apeda has lined up 10 restaurants to serve mangoes as also mango based dishes, he said.
Indian officials are hoping that the prices will come down and Americans would prefer the Indian fruit to those imported from central and south American because of its distinctive taste. The potential is huge as currently only the Diaspora form the majority of consumers, the official said at the mango fair organised by the Indian consulate.
Though the Indian mangoes are among the costliest in the US, the biggest importer of the fruit with the annual consumption 250,000 tonnes, officials says the cost of a box of 12 Indian mangoes which costs between $30 and $35 could be brought down to around $15.
After lifting of the 18-year ban on the import of the fruit from India, mangoes worth $1 million were exported to the US in the past year and the figure is likely to go up to around $7 million this year, Asit Tripathy, chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (Apeda), told reporters.
He said mangoes are irradiated before being exported to the US as per the requirements of the regulators and that adds to the cost — around $150,000 per year. He expressed the hope that as the volume increases, the cost would come down.
Mr Tripathy said that Apeda, the apex body of exporters which is spearheading efforts to popularise mangoes, is discussing with regulators the possibility of the fruits being tested on arrival in the US and of random checking rather than each batch being certified separately.
Also some laboratories in India could be authorised to certify that the mangoes are safe. India, which is the biggest producer of mangoes, has two irradiation facilities already exit and another two are being set up, one in the private sector, Mr Tripathy said.
Indian mangoes need to be airlifted as due to their thin skin, their shelf life is short though irradiation increases it by a few days, he said. Apeda has lined up 10 restaurants to serve mangoes as also mango based dishes, he said.
Indian officials are hoping that the prices will come down and Americans would prefer the Indian fruit to those imported from central and south American because of its distinctive taste. The potential is huge as currently only the Diaspora form the majority of consumers, the official said at the mango fair organised by the Indian consulate.
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