The first consignment of 3 tonnes of mangoes has been sent to the USA from Vashi, Navi Mumbai, following the necessary clearances from the USFDA for the export facilitation centre there.
Around 500-700 tonnes of mangoes are expected to be exported to the US and about 1,300 tonnes to the European Union, according to initial estimates. The Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board reports that KBH exports sent the first consignment.
In accordance with the US norms, irradiation of mangoes is mandatory before exporting them to the country. So far, Maharashtra had only one irradiation centre at Lasalgoan in Nashik. The Vashi facility has the capacity to treat 4.5 tonnes of mangoes per day.
The season in the US begins from the first week of May and batches of mangoes will begin to get cleared for export to this country, Milind Akare, MD, MSAMB, said.
