Give A Wide Berth To Chemically Ripened Mangoes

Mangoes have a rich legacy and are known for their nutritive value. But in today’s environment, they are also a cause of concern. As the mango season breaks in, it challenges the demandsupply mechanism, leaving room for unethical ways to manage demand upswings.

- Santanu Bhattacharjee

As the summer season peaks, mangoes can be seen everywhere! The king of fruits is a common love most of us share in the sultry months. I still have fond memories of plucking mangoes from the tree and savouring it till the last bite. As a die-hard aficionado of mangoes, I wait for this season every year, to delight my taste buds with an assortment of different varieties. We Indians have been fortunate enough to have hundreds of varieties with each region having its own speciality and price range. A quick take on the historic journey of mango tells us that the fruit has been with us for about 4,000 years now and has been savoured by various empires and monarchies down the ages. So much so, some emperors have even favoured this fruit as a tool of diplomacy and it has travelled across nations. Mangoes even find mention in Vedic literatures and the fruit’s leaves are considered to be auspicious, signifying life.

Not only does mango have a rich history but the fruit also carries its goodness in abundance of nutrition. It is rich in Vitamin A along with natural detoxifying agents like flavonoids, carotenes, and polyphenols. Th e fruit is also rich in dietary fiber and contains the right amount of simple sugars.

Moreover, mangoes are loaded with phytonutrients and trace elements like Vitamin C. Apart from these nutrients, mangoes contain 25 different kinds of carotenoids, which help to keep our immune system healthy and provide protection against pathogens.