Traceability means being able to follow a mango back from your box to the place and the pick it came from. For Alphonso, that starts with the GI region (Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and the Konkan belt), continues through the grower and harvest, and ends with the packer. We source from 48+ villages across Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg and harvest to order.
You can compare boxes and sizes in our Ratnagiri Alphonso mango boxes.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
What should traceability actually mean?
The word gets abused. A label that says "from the Konkan" is a claim; it is not traceability. Traceability is a chain of facts you could in principle check: where it grew, who picked it, when, who handled it after, and what happened in between.
For a buyer the practical test is simple. If something is wrong with a mango, can the seller tell where it came from and what was done to it? If the answer is a shrug, there is little traceability, whatever the packaging says.
The chain from orchard to your door
- Region. Alphonso under the GI Tag (No. 139) belongs to defined districts of the Konkan. The geographical indication is a legal marker of origin, not a quality score.
- Village and grower. Fruit comes from orchards in villages across Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
- Harvest. Hand harvested, to order.
- Ripening. On hay beds, in a controlled space, with no carbide.
- Grading and packing. Sorted by piece weight into five grades, packed in a five-ply box with a partition and a foam-net sleeve.
- Dispatch. BlueDart, Monday to Saturday, same day for orders before 1:00 PM IST.
- Receipt and claim. Your order number links the box to the order; claims are raised within 24 hours with photos or video.
Each link is something the seller should be able to describe. The AlphonsoMango.in brand facts sets out the sourcing, packing and ripening facts in one place.
What we can state, and what we do not claim
Be wary of anyone who claims more than they can show. Here is where we stand.
| Topic | What we say | What we do not claim |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 48+ villages across Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg; Ratnagiri and Devgad pages | That every mango is from one named orchard |
| GI | Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso); AU/6932 (Devgad) | That GI guarantees taste |
| Harvest | Hand harvested, to order | Pick-hour timestamps on the box |
| Testing | Brand Facts states weekly testing by Envirocare Labs | That a certificate comes with each box |
| Ripening | Natural, on hay beds; no carbide | Anything about other sellers |
On farm checks, our Editorial Standards page describes specialists and an outsourced team who visit farms before picking. Whether per-order lot or pick-date details can be shared with you is not published. Ask the team and get the answer in writing; do not assume it.
GI Tag No. 139 was certified under certificate No. 4163 dated 16 October 2019. The GI tag certificate articles explain what that entry covers.
Questions to ask any seller
- Which district and which villages does the fruit come from?
- Are you a GI Authorised User? What is the number?
- Who harvests, and when after the order?
- How is it ripened, in what place and for how long?
- Is there testing, by whom and how often?
- If I report a problem, what record links my box to its origin?
Good sellers answer without fuss. A seller who cannot answer three of six has told you how much traceability there is. Keep the answers; they are useful if a claim ever arises.
What you can check yourself
You do not have to trust a web page. Three things are public.
- FSSAI licence. Search our Central Licence number 10020022011783 on the official portal. See the FSSAI page.
- GI Registry. Authorised user numbers sit on the registry maintained by the Government of India.
- APEDA registration. Our registration number is 225579; the APEDA page explains it.
On the box itself, look at the piece weight band, the grade and the packing. The five grades run from 150-180 g to 275-300 g, priced at ₹1,849 to ₹2,999 per dozen. If you want to trace a problem, keep the outer carton, photograph the label and note the delivery date. Report within 24 hours to WhatsApp +91 70830 75556 or support@alphonsomango.in. Fresh fruit ships to serviceable PIN codes only; delivery is free and payment is prepaid.
Ripened naturally, no carbide
Ripening is where traceability matters most, because it is the step you cannot see. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states).
Calcium carbide is prohibited for ripening fruit in India under Regulation 2.3.5 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. It releases acetylene and may carry arsenic and phosphorus. Ethylene up to 100 ppm is permitted (see fssai.gov.in). Street slang for carbide-ripened fruit is "masala". White or grey calcium hydroxide residue in crates, hard but evenly yellow fruit and a sour taste near the stone are red flags. The float test is a rough clue; a lab test is the proof.
Verified business details
- Powle Home Foods, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070 (AlphonsoMango.in).
- GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad); GI tag certificate articles.
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (FSSAI page).
- APEDA registration 225579: export page, APEDA export mangoes.
- Brand Facts, Editorial Standards.
- WhatsApp +91 70830 75556, support@alphonsomango.in, contact page.
- Shipping, returns, press, reviews.
Verify the numbers on ipindia.gov.in, fssai.gov.in and apeda.gov.in. The team from the Founder's office reviews every article before publication; AI is used only as an assistive drafting tool grounded in the store's records.
Frequently asked questions
What does Alphonso mango traceability mean?
Being able to follow a mango back through packing, ripening and harvest to its region and village. It is a chain of checkable facts, not a label.
Where do your mangoes come from?
48+ villages across Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in the Konkan, sold as Ratnagiri or Devgad Alphonso.
Can you tell me which orchard my box came from?
Per-order lot or pick-date details are not published. Ask the team and get any answer in writing.
Is the fruit tested?
Our Brand Facts page states weekly testing by Envirocare Labs. A certificate is not claimed for each box.
Are your mangoes ripened with carbide?
No. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally, on hay beds as our FAQ states.
How do I verify your GI status?
Check our Authorised User numbers (AU/5974/GI/139/260 and AU/6932) with the GI Registry at ipindia.gov.in.
What should I keep if something goes wrong?
The outer carton, photos of the fruit and label, the order number and the delivery date. Report within 24 hours.
Sources and further reading
Related: Top GI-tagged mango sellers online, Assess seller reviews, Direct-from-orchard platforms
