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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 29, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

Mango Diplomacy blooms in Seattle

OUR BUREAU the Consulate last year played a key
role in familiarising Seattle residents,
Seattle, WA
distributors and retailers with premi-
he sweet taste of India’s king um Indian mango varieties known
of fruits, the mango, is final- for their flavour, aroma and texture.
Tly making its way to Seattle The four showcased varieties --
shelves in the US, with the Kesar vari- Dasheri, Chausa, Kesar and Langra
ant of the prized fruit arriving across -- are among India’s most popular
Indian grocery stores and major re- mangoes and are widely consumed
tail outlets in the region ahead of the during the country’s summer season.
city’s first sunny summer weekend. “We actually hosted a very big
In a significant cultural and com- mango promotion event last year in
mercial moment being celebrated Seattle at the Consulate. Got four va-
as “mango diplomacy,” the Consul- rieties of mangoes: Dasheri, Chausa,
ate General of India in Seattle an- Kesar and Langra. And had them be
nounced the arrival of Indian man- tasted by Seattle people, including
goes through a special feature on most of the distributors here. Sub-
Fox 13 News’ popular morning pro- sequently, we worked with a lot of
gramme “Good Day Seattle.” local groceries, deliveries, and big
“As a prelude to the arrival of US retailers to see if they could also
mangoes from India in Seattle stores get them tasted here by local people.
this weekend, Fox 13 News featured And I am very happy to say that after
a special segment on their morning one year of efforts, we are now going
show, ‘Good Day Seattle’,” the Con- to have all kinds of Indian mangoes,
sulate General of India, Seattle, said beginning with Kesar, in Seattle be-
in a post on X. ginning this weekend,” Gupta stated.
During the segment, Fox 13 The Consul General further
News introduced viewers to the sto- confirmed that the mangoes are ex-
ry behind India’s iconic mango va- pected to be available not only in In-
rieties and their growing popularity dian grocery stores but also at major
in the United States, describing the retail chains across the Greater Seat-
development as both a culinary cel- tle region.
ebration and a symbol of India-US “We believe these are already
cultural ties. in some of the local Indian grocery
Consul General of India in Se- stores. The bigger ones, like Costco
attle Prakash Gupta highlighted the outlets in Seattle, Kirkland, Red-
emotional and cultural significance mond and the Greater Seattle area,
attached to mangoes in India during are likely to have it by the end of
the segment, while also recalling the this weekend. So, Sunday onwards,
historic journey of Indian mangoes please; you can stop by Costco and
into the American market. pick it up or go to an Indian grocery
“When they (mangoes) first store and pick it up,” he added.
came into the US in 2007, I believe The arrival of Indian mangoes in
the New York Times called them the Seattle marks another chapter in the
most eagerly anticipated fruit de- growing cultural connection between
livery ever. So that’s what it meant with this fruit. Families bond over dent George W. Bush during his 2006 India and the United States, with the
then. We are very happy to showcase mangoes. That’s why they are so spe- visit to India. fruit often serving as a soft-power
them in Seattle. Indian mangoes cial to us. And really, we are happy “In 2006, I remember President symbol of nostalgia, tradition, and
are special for a variety of reasons,” to bring it to Seattle because just like George W. Bush when he visited In- people-to-people ties.
Gupta said. Seattleites await the first sunny sum- dia; he tasted an Alphonso mango in From Alphonso to Kesar, Dash-
The Consul General highlight- mer weekend, we were eagerly await- India and told our then Prime Minis- eri to Langra, India’s famed mango
ed the deep emotional and cultural ing these mangoes here in Seattle,” ter, ‘What a hell of a fruit.’ It started varieties continue to generate excite-
significance mangoes hold for Indi- he added. that wave of mangoes coming into ment among the Indian diaspora and
an families, calling them a symbol of The segment further explored the US,” he remarked. American consumers alike, turning
summer memories, togetherness and the concept of “mango diplomacy”, Gupta also spoke about how the what was once a seasonal delicacy
nostalgia. referring to the diplomatic and trade sustained efforts over the past year, into a diplomatic success story that
He noted that Indian mangoes are efforts that helped Indian mangoes including large-scale promotional bridges cultures through taste and
much more than just a seasonal fruit gain access to American consumers events and collaborations with re- tradition.
for millions of people across India. over the years. tailers and distributors, have helped India is the world’s leading man-
“First, they mean very different- Speaking on the diplomatic his- pave the way for Indian mangoes to go producer, cultivating between 20
ly to Indian people. It typically rep- tory behind the fruit’s entry into the officially reach consumers across Se- and 26 million tonnes every year and
resents the onset of summer, and our US market, Gupta recalled a notable attle beginning this weekend. accounting for almost 50 per cent of
growing-up memories are associated moment involving former US Presi- A promotional event hosted by global mango production.

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