Pune Rains Sour Mango Season: Prices Crash, Market Yard Sees Slump in Demand
Reported by Vikrant Sonawane
Market Yard, 25th May 2025: The arrival of unseasonal pre-monsoon showers has dealt a severe blow to the mango season in Pune, disrupting not only the taste and quality but also the price, supply, and demand for the king of fruits. At the bustling Market Yard, once brimming with mango lovers, the mood is now subdued.
From Alphonso (Hapus) to Badam and local varieties, nearly every type of mango has been affected by the unexpected rainfall. Vendors are struggling to find buyers, while prices have plummeted amid weakening demand.
“No customers, no charm this season,” says vendor
“There are barely any customers for mangoes this year,” says Shaikh Shahrukh, a long-time fruit vendor at Market Yard. “The mango season is not officially over yet, but due to rain, prices have dropped drastically. People are bargaining hard, and we are forced to sell at lower rates.”
According to him, Alphonso mangoes, which were earlier selling at ₹500–₹550 per dozen, are now going for ₹400–₹425. “We’ll have Hapus for about another eight days, then local ‘gavran‘ mangoes will dominate, but the vibe of the season is missing,” he added.
Shipments Sold, But No Buyers in Sight
Another vendor, Imran, echoed the sentiment. “All fresh shipments are already sold out. What we are selling now are the remaining stocks. After this, whatever mangoes are left will go straight to the processing factories.”
He highlighted how business has dropped: “Earlier, I could sell four dozen boxes of mangoes for ₹2,000. Now I barely manage to get ₹800–₹1,200 for the same quantity. Except for Sundays, there are no significant sales. Other fruits have started to take over the market now.”
“Hope lies in June,” says another hopeful vendor
Vendor Arif Shaikh believes the market might recover after the first week of June. “It’s all gone down due to rain. But hopefully, from June 3 onwards, we’ll see some improvement.”
He also pointed out how prices have halved: “Earlier I sold Badam mangoes at ₹50–₹60 per kg, now I’m selling them at just ₹30 per kg. Hapus was ₹80 per kg, and now it’s down to ₹40–₹50.”
Outlook: Will the Mango Season Recover?
With the monsoon season creeping in earlier than expected, farmers, vendors, and mango enthusiasts alike are left hoping for a turnaround. While the market remains grim, traders are pinning their hopes on a dry spell in June to bring some relief.
Until then, the charm of mangoes in Pune is dampened—both by rain and by shrinking footfall.
