Talala: The Kesar mango, a fruit cherished by every Gujarati, has gained popularity overseas as well — and a young entrepreneur from Talala has contributed to this success by exporting over 100 tonnes of mangoes to five countries this year.

Chetan Mendpara, the son of a farmer from Jashpur village in Talala, has taken on the mission of promoting Gujarat’s Kesar mangoes on the global stage. A B.Sc. Agriculture graduate, Chetan founded the company The Mango Mart and began exporting mangoes to Gulf countries three years ago.

This year, a total of 100 tonnes of mangoes have been exported to the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Africa. The mangoes are exported in boxes containing a dozen mangoes weighing around 3 kg each. Specifically, 10,000 boxes were shipped to the US, 8,000 to London, 8,000 to Canada, 4,200 to Australia, 1,000 to Germany, and 800 to Africa. Prices range from $25–30 in the US, £15–16 in the UK, C$30–35 in Canada, A$40–45 in Australia, €20–22 in Germany, and $25–30 in Africa.

In addition to Kesar mangoes from Gir, The Mango Mart has also exported Hapus mangoes from Ratnagiri, Valsadi Hapus, and Kesar mangoes from Kutch. The global success of Indian mangoes has validated Chetan Mendpara’s entrepreneurial vision.

Chetan said, “We have our own farm. However, we also collaborate with mango-producing farmers from Gir, Kutch, Valsad, and Ratnagiri to source high-quality mangoes. These are sent to processing facilities in Navi Mumbai and Ahmedabad (Bavla) for treatment and export.”

He further explained, “Mangoes destined for the US are processed at the Mumbai facility, while those headed for Australia are processed at the Bavla facility. However, exports have been lower this year compared to last year due to a decline in quality caused by unseasonal rains.”

This year, the Kesar mango crop was severely affected — first by adverse weather and later by the golden fly pest. As a result, the Kesar mangoes lost some of their typical vibrancy and flavor, leaving mango lovers disappointed.

Notably, about 80% of the horticultural crop in the Gir region consists of mango orchards. Most mangoes arriving at the market yard are purchased by canning units. Additionally, farmers also sell directly to other cities across Saurashtra and Gujarat. In total, mangoes worth approximately ₹80 crore have been sold from Gir this year. DeshGujarat