A Major Blow to India's Agricultural Exports, U.S. Authorities Reject at Least 15 Shipments of Mangoes
In a significant setback for India's agricultural exports, U.S. authorities have rejected at least 15 shipments of mangoes at major gateways including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta due to paperwork errors.
Exporters were faced with the difficult choice of either sending the mangoes back or destroying them—ultimately, due to the fruit's perishable nature and high return costs, it was decided to destroy them in the U.S. The estimated losses are pegged at up to $500,000, a notable blow during the peak mango season. The U.S. remains the largest market for Indian mango exports, making this disruption particularly damaging.
The rejected mangoes had undergone mandatory irradiation at a USDA-approved facility in Navi Mumbai on May 8 and 9, which met the required phytosanitary standards for pest control. Exporters have expressed concern over the issues that led to these losses and have appealed for stricter coordination among authorities to prevent such incidents in the future and to protect India's reputation in international markets.