The arrival of Indian mangoes in Seattle has been celebrated as a moment of cultural connection and growing India-US ties, with the prized Kesar variety reaching grocery stores and major retail outlets across the region ahead of the summer season.
The Consulate General of India in Seattle highlighted the development through a special feature on Fox 13 News’ morning programme “Good Day Seattle”, describing it as an example of “mango diplomacy”.
According to the Consulate, the segment introduced viewers to India’s iconic mango varieties and traced the diplomatic and cultural journey that helped bring them to American consumers.
Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta said Indian mangoes hold deep emotional and cultural significance for people in India and are closely associated with summer memories and family traditions.
“Families bond over mangoes. That’s why they are so special to us,” he said during the programme.
Gupta also recalled how Indian mangoes first entered the US market in 2007 and referred to former US President George W. Bush tasting Alphonso mangoes during his visit to India in 2006.
“In 2006, President George W. Bush visited India, tasted an Alphonso mango and said, ‘What a hell of a fruit,’” Gupta remarked while discussing the growing popularity of Indian mangoes in the United States.
The Consulate had organised a large promotional event in Seattle last year to familiarise distributors, retailers and local residents with premium Indian mango varieties, including Dasheri, Chausa, Kesar and Langra.
Following sustained outreach efforts and collaboration with retailers and distributors, Indian mangoes are now expected to be available across Indian grocery stores as well as major retail chains in the Greater Seattle area.
Gupta said outlets of Costco in Seattle, Kirkland and Redmond were likely to begin stocking the mangoes by the end of the weekend.
The development has generated excitement among the Indian diaspora and local consumers, with Indian mangoes increasingly emerging as a symbol of cultural exchange and people-to-people ties between India and the United States.
India remains the world’s largest producer of mangoes, accounting for nearly half of global mango production with an annual output ranging between 20 and 26 million tonnes.
-ANI
