The second edition of Mango Magic: Promotion and Tasting Event of Indian Mangoes was held in Seattle, Washington on 6 June 2025, drawing more than 100 leading importers of Indian fruits and senior representatives from major US retailers, including Costco, according to the Consulate General of India in Seattle. The event showcased seven premium Indian mango varieties and underscored the rapidly expanding appetite for Indian produce in the American market.

Varieties on Display

Seven regional varieties formed the centrepiece of the tasting: Alphonso and Kesar from Maharashtra, Banganapalli and Himayat from Andhra Pradesh, Langra and Dussehri from Uttar Pradesh, and ripe Rajapuri from Gujarat. Guests also attended a special luncheon featuring Indian dishes prepared with all seven varieties, offering a broader window into India's culinary heritage. The event was organised in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Political and Diplomatic Presence

Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington State, addressed the gathering and welcomed the growing presence of Indian mangoes in the US market, expressing appreciation for the introduction of a wider range of varieties to consumers in Washington, particularly through major retail chains such as Costco. Washington State Senators Tina Orwell, Manka Dhingra, and Vandana Slatter also attended, alongside the Consuls General of Japan and Uzbekistan.

Costco Partnership and Rapid Sell-Out

The Consulate noted that efforts to introduce Indian mangoes in the Seattle region began on 10 July 2025, with momentum accelerating after a meeting with Costco's Chief Executive Officer in April 2026. That engagement led first to the introduction of Maharashtra's Bhagwa pomegranates at Costco stores, followed by the launch of Kesar mangoes in May 2026. In the third week of May 2026, Costco imported its first consignment of Indian Kesar mangoes to stores across Greater Seattle — including Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah, Woodinville, Lynnwood, and Redmond — as well as outlets in Las Vegas, New Jersey, and the Greater Los Angeles region. Costco representatives reportedly observed that 'all the Indian mangoes were sold out from these locations within two hours of their arrival on the shelves,' a response that highlighted significant unmet demand.

Export Numbers and Market Potential

India is the world's largest producer of mangoes, with annual output exceeding 26 million metric tonnes and more than 1,000 identified varieties, according to the Consulate. Exports to the US, which resumed in 2007 after an 18-year suspension, have grown sharply: the value of Indian mango exports to the US reached $10 million in FY 2023-24, a rise of nearly 130 per cent from $4.36 million in FY 2022-23. US mango imports overall are projected to grow by a further 7 per cent in 2026, while the total American mango import market crossed the $1 billion mark in 2025.

Prime Minister Modi's Endorsement

The Consulate also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Mann Ki Baat address, in which he highlighted the extraordinary diversity of Indian mangoes — from Maharashtra's Alphonso and Gujarat's Kesar to Uttar Pradesh's Dussehri and Langra, Bihar's Zardalu, and Andhra Pradesh's Banganapalli and Totapuri — and praised India's mango growers for taking their produce 'from the village to the global market.' The Seattle edition of Mango Magic is seen as a direct extension of that push, with the Consulate signalling plans to deepen the presence of India's regional varieties across the US Pacific Northwest and other international markets.