The fruit that’s launched a thousand websites

Bang started selling mangoes online more than a decade ago. ‘‘People outside India believe it is a very secure way of ordering. Our business is conducted 100 per cent online today. The online mode is also very popular for corporate gifting,’’ says Bang.

Agrees Sujay Bhal, an agricultural consultant: ‘‘Online mango buying is very popular with NRIs. Alphonso and Kesari have a special flavour and are very much in demand abroad.’’

A lot of NRIs also order it for gifting to their relatives in India, says Bang, noting that the maximum orders are from NRIs in the US for their relatives here. Bhal says within the country online sales are yet to pick up.

Manvinder Sahni, a Delhi-based online dealer, differs. ‘‘Buying mangoes online is becoming like ordering flowers online. Those who know the taste and flavour of exotic varieties and want to buy it from the region where they grow, order online. They know they are getting value for their money.’’

A Delhi-based food chain has gone a step ahead. They are even selling mango gateaux, ice cream and mouse online.

‘‘Everything is available online. With changing lifestyles, people have a lot of money to spend but not much time at hand. So buying through the internet has emerged as a preferred medium,’’ says Sandeep Madan of Nirula’s, noting that ‘‘all our mango products are available online for sale in select cities of North India at an advance order of 36 hours.’’

And when the mango season is over, these portals shift to selling mango pickles and chutneys, says Bhal. But he adds a word of caution. Noting that the going has been good so far because of the lax sanitary laws in the Middle East and the UK, he says, ‘‘but once the US market opens up, Indians have to be very careful about maintaining these standards.’’

–ARVINDER KAUR