The arrival of Hapus mangoes in Vashi’s APMC market has surged, leading to a drop in prices. Rising temperatures have prompted early harvesting, with 6,000 crates of Hapus reaching the market on Tuesday. However, due to premature harvesting, most of the mangoes are smaller in size.
Prices have fallen by Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per crate. Previously, crates containing 4 to 6 dozen mangoes were priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 7,000, but they are now selling for Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000. While a good harvest was expected this season, unpredictable weather has impacted production.
The recent heatwave has intensified, affecting Hapus mangoes and forcing orchard owners in Konkan to harvest earlier than usual. The scorching sun is impacting fruit quality, causing many mangoes to fall prematurely. To minimize losses, farmers are accelerating the harvesting process.
“Since March, Hapus mangoes from Konkan, as well as those from Karnataka and Raigad, have been arriving in larger numbers. However, extreme heat has led to early harvesting before the mangoes fully mature. Currently, 80% of the mangoes in the market are small, with only 20% being larger in size,” said trader Sanjay Pimple.