The mango is often referred to as the king of fruit. This is because of its taste, color and beauty. Mangoes are among the most popular fruits worldwide and are especially popular in South and Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Hawaii. Mangoes are a seasonal fruit and are available only during late spring.
The Alphonso Mango is named after Afonso de Albuquerque. This was an exquisite and expensive variety of mango, that he used to bring on his journeys to Goa. The locals took to calling it Aphoos in Konkani and in Maharashtra the pronunciation got further transformed to Hapoos. This variety then was taken to the Konkan region of Maharashtra and other parts of India.
The southern district of Ratnagiri and south northern parts of Sindhudurg in Maharashtra state, including regions around the DEVGAD' and Taluka, produce the finest quality alphonso mangoes in India. The southern districts of Valsad and Navsari in Gujarat state and particularly Alphonso mangoes from the Amalsad region (including villages such as Dhamadachha, Kacholi, and all villages of Gandevi) produce Alphonso mangoes as well. Southern States in India are also major mango producing areas. From north to south, climatic changes occur which result in differences in the quality of the produce. Even in Ratnagiri and Devgad the finest fruit comes from a patch of 20 km from the seashore.
The variety grown in Seashore areas in Ratnagiri and Devgad in the Kokan region of Maharashtra is supposed to be the best. It's also the most expensive amongst the sub-breeds of Alphonso. In most of the Indian market sub-varieties are fetching the price of good quality alfonso. These varieties neither have the sweetness, nor have the flavour of hapoos.
The Alphonso is generally referred to as 'Hapoos' throughout South Asia.
In April 2007, the United States lifted its ban on the import of Indian mangoes, including the Alphonso. The first batch of Alphonso mangoes arrived in the US after an 18 year hiatus. However, the mangoes must be treated before entering the country in order to stop the introduction of non-native fruit flies, destructive fungi, and other pests that could cause great damage to American agriculture. Individuals cannot bring mangoes into the United States in luggage or ship them by mail.
Haapus is used to make sweets, candies and smoothies - Mango Milkshake, Mango Lassi (both smoothies), Aamba-Wadi (a somewhat chewy sweet), Aam-Ras (Mango pulp which is eaten with puris - an Indian Bread), Sakhar Amba (Marathi word for a home-made mango jelly/jam), Mango barfi (see Barfi), etc.
Alphonso mangoes are mostly exported from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
Where To Buy?
Alphonso mangoes are available throughout konkan region during March to June. But April and May are the months when you can buy good mangoes at cheaper rate (around Rs.20 per piece). According to size and type of the fruit price may range from Rs.150 to Rs.250 for dozen. Generally in this region Mangoes are not sale on weight like in North India. So we cannot say the rate per kilogram.
At Railway station, mangoes are available at little high rate.
Some photos and text taken from wikipedia