Indian Mangoes Draw Summer Rush Across U.S. Retail Stores
Washington — Indian mangoes are seeing a surge in demand across the United States, with shipments selling out within hours at major retailers as consumers seek out varieties such as Kesar, Alphonso and Langra.
From Seattle and Los Angeles to New Jersey and Washington, D.C., the fruit is attracting both Indian American shoppers looking for a familiar summer favorite and U.S. consumers discovering Indian mangoes for the first time.
India’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Kwatra said the growing popularity of Indian mangoes reflects both diaspora nostalgia and a broader American appreciation for Indian produce.
For decades, Indian Americans returning from summer visits to India carried memories of Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Dussehri mangoes. Now, many of those varieties are appearing in American retail stores, bringing a taste of India to shoppers thousands of miles away.
“You know, we all have a sense of diaspora, particularly in the US a sense of summer nostalgia as I call it when it comes to mango. Summer vacations remind us of the times when, we will enjoy mango and the deliciousness of this fruit to our heart’s content,” Kwatra told IANS ahead of a mango festival being organized by the Embassy of India in Washington later this month.
That nostalgia is now reaching supermarket shelves.
“But we are now facing a very, very happy situation where this nostalgia is now available with American retailers,” he said.
The latest example came in Seattle, where the Consulate General of India hosted the second edition of “Mango Magic,” a promotion and tasting event attended by more than 100 importers, distributors and senior representatives from major retailers, including Costco.
Guests sampled seven premium Indian mango varieties: Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganpalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh, and Rajapuri from Gujarat.
Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck welcomed the introduction of a wider range of Indian mangoes to Washington State. State senators, diplomats and business leaders also attended the event, which was organized in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
In May, Costco imported its first shipment of Indian Kesar mangoes to stores in Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, New Jersey and Greater Los Angeles. Costco representatives said “all the Indian mangoes were sold out from these locations within two hours of their arrival on the shelves.”
Kwatra said the rapid sell-out reflected strong demand.
“People tell me that when Costco first introduced Mango and … within a couple of hours, the shelves all emptied out. Such was the popularity of the fruit,” he said.
Consumers have also tracked the arrival of Kesar mangoes at Costco locations across California, Washington State and New Jersey on social media, posting photos and urging friends to visit stores before supplies disappear. One customer described Indian Kesar mangoes as an “iconic Indian summer favorite,” while others said Indian mangoes were “unmatched in taste.”
Kwatra said the enthusiasm is not limited to the Indian diaspora.
“I can tell you from my personal experience that the mango that we have shared here with our colleagues in the US administration, in the Congress, universal feedback has been that this is the most delicious kind of mango they have ever tasted in their lives,” he said.
India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes, with annual production exceeding 26 million metric tonnes and more than 1,000 named varieties. Exports of Indian mangoes to the United States resumed in 2007 after an 18-year suspension and have grown steadily over the past decade.
Indian mango exports to the U.S. reached $10 million in FY2023-24, up from $4.36 million in the previous fiscal year.
With the U.S. mango import market crossing $1 billion in value in 2025 and continuing to expand, Indian exporters see a growing opportunity to introduce regional varieties to a wider American audience. (Source: IANS)
