The Indian mango season has just begun and it’s off to a flying start with very good quality and high yields expected from several states across the country.

"The early harvests have already started and by the middle of next month and onwards, the mango season will be really on," director of the Indian government’s National Horticulture Board, Dr. Anand Singh, tells www.freshfruitportal.com.

The first shipments have already reached European countries, including the U.K., as well as New Zealand and the U.S.

The last two years have been described as 'devastating' for the Indian mango sector as heavy rains and hailstorms hampered crops in 2015 and the EU enforced a complete ban on Indian mangoes amid concerns over fruit fly contamination in 2014.

But the sector has high hopes this year as estimates are coming in for total production to be close to 20 million metric tons (MT).

"So far this is shaping up to be a very good season for mango because thankfully this time the mango crop has not been damaged on account of natural calamities such as heavy rain and gusty winds like we experienced last year.

"This will be a fortunate year and I expect there to be a total production of around 20 million MT which includes our renowned Alphonso variety which has already reached London, New York and Tokyo."

High volumes of Alphonso and other varieties could also be absorbed by Gulf countries as exporters negotiate new supplies in countries where there are large Indian expatriate communities.

"We are planning on targeting the Gulf countries as well because there are other varieties that are extremely sweet and delicious compared with what is available there.

"The Gulf countries are an especially good market because lots of expatriates are living out there and of course they have Indian tastes and want to have the other varieties."

Britain also has large ethnic communities pushing demand for Indian mango.

Importer and distributor Fruity Fresh, in England, has historically imported around 20% of the Indian mangoes coming into the U.K., and company representative Monica Bhandari was heavily involved with the campaign to overturn the EU import ban throughout 2014.

She has recently received the first batch of the 2016 season.

"The season has kicked off and we have been selling and enjoying Indian mangoes," she tells www.freshfruitportal.com.

"We are hoping for better produce this year. Obviously being the start of the season, it’s hard to tell yet. Also we have to bear in mind that the hot water dipping treatment being done to ensure Indian mangoes pass European standards means there is a degradation in the product, resulting in a shorter lifespan.

“That said, I have had some very tasty mangoes so far this year."

As part of a package of measures introduced by India’s Ministry of Agriculture in the midst of the mango import ban during 2014, all of the fruit must go through hot water treatment to reduce the risk of pests and contamination.

There are several government-approved facilities over the country, many of which have been inspected and given clearance by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials and their counterparts in Europe and the U.K.

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