A weak Alphonso season from the Konkan belt has upended Mumbai’s mango market, with a 60-70 per cent production hit forcing traders to plug gaps with lookalike “Alphonso” (Hapus) varieties from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Unseasonal rain and pest attacks during flowering have delayed the harvest, slashing arrivals of Ratnagiri and Devgad Hapus and reshaping early-season supply across the city.
How to spot the real Hapus
(Sanjay Pansare’s quick guide)
Smell first, not look
A genuine Konkan Hapus has a strong, natural aroma that you can notice even from a distance
New batch of Hapus arrives at APMC amid supply crunch
Colour check
Rich saffron-yellow when ripe, never dull or patchy
Skin test
Thin, delicate skin that feels soft and smooth
Watch the fakes
Thicker skin, firmer feel, more fibrous bite and noticeably weaker fragrance signal southern varieties sold under the Alphonso umbrella
On ground (South Mumbai)
Retailers in Crawford Market and Colaba are stocking southern varieties to meet demand, while genuine Devgad Hapus remains scarce, premium, and increasingly difficult for buyers to identify.
Former APMC Fruit Market director Sanjay Pansare performs pooja of Hapus at Vashi market, as traders navigate a weak Konkan season and rising dependence on southern “Alphonso” varieties
Market snapshot
(APMC, Monday)
17,000 boxes total arrivals
6325 boxes: Genuine Konkan Hapus
10,675 boxes: Southern varieties
500-600 crates/day (20 kg each) from Kerala, TN, Karnataka
60-70percent production deficit in Konkan
Price gap (per dozen)
Rs 3000- Rs 9000
Konkan Hapus
Rs 1200- Rs 1500
Southern “Alphonso”
What changed
>> Erratic weather during flowering
>> Pest attacks hit the yield
>> Harvest delayed, early market captured by southern states
Supply shift
Sanjay Pansare, former APMC Fruit Market director
‘Southern varieties now make up 60 per cent plus of “Alphonso” stock in Mumbai “Arrivals of genuine Hapus are barely 10 per cent of last year’
Spot the real Hapus
(Former APMC fruit market director Sanjay Pansare’s quick guide)
Smell first, not look
A genuine Konkan Hapus has a strong, natural aroma you can notice even from a distance
Colour check
Rich saffron-yellow when ripe, never dull or patchy
Skin test
Thin, delicate skin that feels soft and smooth
Watch the fakes
Thicker skin, firmer feel, more fibrous bite and noticeably weaker fragrance signal southern varieties sold under the Alphonso umbrella
