Mumbaikars can order branded mangoes online

With the arrival of the summer season, the markets here are filled with mangoes -- and an online shopping portal has introduced its range of branded, naturally ripened and guaranteed carbide-free mangoes for Mumbai and surrounding regions.

Even for the most experienced connoisseurs of mangoes -- India's national fruit -- it remains a challenge to select the right type of the fleshy sweet fruit, especially the Alphonso (hapoos) variety, which is considered the king of all mangoes.

The best of the Indian Alphonso come from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra's coastal Konkan region, and a few from south Gujarat.

An online shopping portal, www.greencart.in has introduced six varieties of Alphonso.

"The quality of good mangoes is determined by the soil, climate, its proximity to the Arabian Sea, the wind and temperatures which give texture, aroma, colour and rich flavour to the luscious fruit," Rajiv Tevtiya, CEO of the online portal told IANS.

"Our mangoes are different from those available in the market, as we have hand-graded them for standardisation. The mangoes were naturally ripened at the government approved chambers. Since natural ripening is a long and expensive process, most vendors prefer the short-cut, artificially ripening them by the banned toxic powder Calcium Carbide, which affects health," said Tevtiya.