Mango madness
Posted on May 28, 2008 under Indian mangoes, fruit by stett | No CommentI drove up and down El Camino Real between Santa Clara and Sunnyvale and made four stops before I found them: Indian mangoes.
I’ve long heard rapt descriptions of the Indian fruit and this year I was determined to try some myself. The fruit, generally Alphonso mangoes, are flown here at great expense and only available in the spring. Once the rains arrive in India they’re gone. India has only been allowed to ship mangoes into the U.S. since last year because of concerns about agricultural pests. Now the fruit is irradiated and the U.S. Department of Agriculture says we’re safe. Now, restaurateurs and covetous consumers snap up cases of Alphonsos in a matter of hours.
The Indian markets of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale are a great source for the mangoes, if someone doesn’t beat you to them. At several of the markets I visited I was told they had just sold out. When I asked the lady behind the counter at New India Bazar she told me a new shipment would arrive in within an hour. So I staked the place out and waited. I went back in at the appointed time and looked around for the elusive fruit. Nothing. I asked the lady if the mangoes had arrived and she gave me a mildly suspicious look and then got on the phone and said something I couldn’t understand. A man appeared and she directed me to follow him. The mangoes must be near, I thought. I trailed him as he pushed a blue Sear’s shopping cart toward an unmarked white van. I knew I was going to meet my connection.
The mangoes arrive. Get them while they last.
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