By Rani Bagai

Food and Culture Correspondent

On a sunny afternoon in downtown Seattle earlier this month, the Consulate General of India hosted the second edition of “Mango Magic: Promotion and Tasting Event of Indian Mangoes.” Dozens of importers of Indian fruits, including retailers like Costco, participated and tasted seven premium varieties of Indian mangoes on display, including Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganpalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh and Rajapuri from Gujarat.

Hosted in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (“APEDA”) of India, the Indian Mango promotion event featured a special luncheon with dishes of Indian cuisine made using all seven varieties of Indian mangoes on display, so that their distinctive ranges of aroma, texture, and sweetness could be fully appreciated.

The event featured several guest speakers, including Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, who addressed the assembled crowd of over 100 event goers, including your correspondent, and welcomed the introduction of the wide variety of Indian mangoes to Washington, particularly at leading U.S. retailers such as Costco. Other dignitaries who attended and savored the array of Indian Mangoes offered, included State Senators Tina Orwell (33rd District), Manka Dhingra (45th District), and Vice President of Costco Fresh Produce Bob Husky.

The Consulate first introduced Indian Mangoes in Seattle in July 2025, holding its first event showcasing mangoes, partnering with stakeholders in India and the Greater Seattle area to bring these premium mangoes to large retail stores for American consumers. These efforts were significantly boosted following the Costco CEO’s decision in April 2026 to introduce the Bhagwa variety of pomegranates from Maharashtra at their stores in the region.

This was immediately followed by Costco’s extremely successful launch of Kesar Indian Mangoes in May 2026, bringing them to stores in Greater Seattle (Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah, Woodinville, Lynnwood and Redmond) as well as selected stores in Nevada, New Jersey and California. Costco representatives noted that “all the Indian mangoes were sold out from these locations within two hours of their arrival on the shelves,” underscoring the huge demand potential for these mangoes in the U.S. Costco VP Husky happily confirmed this at the event, telling the crowd “they have been selling faster than we can bring them back in.”

The flavors of Indian Mangoes are far more diverse than the typical mango currently available to the consumer in Washington. Just like plums and peaches, different varieties of Indian mangoes can be more or less sweet, more or less tangy, and more or less floral. When this correspondent had the opportunity to sample the assorted varieties, I was startled and impressed by the differences in the flavor profiles, and found much to admire in every variety. There is no question that Indian Mangoes -- no matter the type -- are a giant step above the mainstream mango one finds in one’s local supermarket.

It has long been recognized that mangoes are nutritious and a healthy element of one’s diet. One of its most impressive nutrient facts is that just one cup of fresh mango provides nearly 67% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin C, aiding the immune system, the absorption of iron and promoting cell growth and repair. Mango is also a good source of the minerals copper and folate, which are especially important nutrients during pregnancy, as they support healthy fetal growth and development.

India is the world's largest producer of mangoes, with an annual output of over 26 million metric tons and more than 1,000 named varieties. Indian mango exports to the United States, which resumed in 2007 after an 18-year suspension, have grown rapidly. Export value reached $10 million in FY 2023-24, up 130% from $4.36 million in FY 2022-23. U.S. mango imports are projected to grow by a further 7% in 2026, and the total U.S. mango import market itself crossed $1 billion in value in 2025.

As such, the Consulate’s Mango Magic event in Seattle further amplified the potential of regional mango varieties from India, and their potential for exports and consumption by wider audiences in the Pacific Northwest region. Washington is certainly showing itself to be a very receptive and enthusiastic market to the Indian Mango, and that demand will likely only increase with exposure.