Retail price of mangoes are already 40% up.
The March rains seem to have washed away both quality and price of mango, the king of fruits. The production has gone down and the prices - up.
Production has taken a hit particularly in Saurashtra and South Gujarat. And the extended winter has not helped, say wholesellers. "Even in south Gujarat, the produce has been low," said wholesale dealer Prem Rohra.
All of this has boiled down to a price hike of 20% in wholesale market. And the jump is double for retail market.
So the succulent Kesar, loved by all of Gujarat, which cost only Rs 70-80 last year, cannot reach your table for anything less than Rs 120. As for the Ratnagiri Hafoos, the price per box has increased by Rs 100 - each box now costs Rs 400.
"Unseasonal rains have ensured that prices have skyrocketed,'' said Heena Jasani, who along with her husband, travelled nearly 6 km to a wholesale market in Naroda, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. "Even quality-wise, the fruits are not good this year,'' added her husband, Gaurav Jasani.
Mango lovers can now only hope the second lot of produce, expected in another fortnight, is a little better.