An advance purchase commitment is a promise to buy a stated quantity of mangoes in a stated window. Retailers should commit only what they are sure to sell, keep part of the volume flexible and get quantity, grade, window, price and remedies in writing. AlphonsoMango.in has not published trade terms; they are quoted on request.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
What a commitment really is
A promise with consequences on both sides.
When a retailer commits in advance, the seller plans harvest and packing around that number, and the retailer plans shelf space, cold storage and customers. If the retailer backs out, the seller may be left with fruit that cannot be re-sold at the same price. If the seller fails to deliver, the retailer is left with empty shelves in the best week of the season. That symmetry is why the details matter. A vague WhatsApp thumbs-up is not a commitment; it is a misunderstanding waiting to happen.
This is a buyer-side explainer. I will describe how a careful retailer should think about it, and say where AlphonsoMango.in has published terms and where it has not. For deeper risk analysis see the risk assessment for retailers.
What to commit and what to keep open
A simple split works for most small and mid-sized shops.
- Commit (about half to two thirds): the volume you are confident of selling every week: your regular customers, standing orders, festival gifting.
- Keep flexible (the rest): the volume that depends on weather, footfall and competitors' prices.
- Stage the delivery: weekly or fortnightly drops rather than one big lot, so ripening and selling stay in step.
- Plan the end of the season: do not commit big volumes to June, when quality and demand both fall away.
The season is usually February to June, and the 2027 season is listed to start on 1 February 2027 (per our Press and Media page). Early-season fruit is rare and expensive; peak is the safest time to commit volume; the tail is the riskiest.
A worked example
Illustrative only; the percentages are assumptions, and trade pricing is not published.
A Mumbai fruit shop expects to sell about 60 dozens through April and May. The owner commits 40 dozens in four deliveries of 10 dozens, and leaves 20 dozens to top up. At the published single-dozen price of Rs 2,099 for medium fruit, 40 x 2,099 = Rs 83,960 for the commitment, paid before dispatch, with free delivery. If sales run 25 percent below plan, the shop sells 45 dozens in all, so the 40 committed are nearly all sold and the top-up is cancelled: the exposure is limited to the committed lot. Had the shop committed all 60, a 25 percent shortfall would leave 15 dozens, or 15 x 2,099 = Rs 31,485 of stock to sell off or carry.
The difference in risk, Rs 31,485 against a small leftover, is the case for a flexible slice. It also shows why you should model the bad case before you sign, not after.
The terms to settle in writing
- Quantity and grade. How many dozens, which size grade (small 150-180 g up to jumbo 275-300 g), which variety.
- Delivery window. Dates or weeks, and who confirms them.
- Price. Per dozen or per kg, fixed or variable, and whether delivery is included.
- Payment. Timing and mode, and what the receipt will show.
- Changes. Until when can you change quantity or week?
- Failure to fulfil. What is refunded and how quickly?
- Quality and claims. The claim window and the remedy.
- Documents. Invoice, GST details, licence copies.
I would put these in one email and ask the seller to reply "confirmed". It takes ten minutes and saves a season of arguments.
What is published and what is not
| Topic | Status at AlphonsoMango.in |
|---|---|
| Single-dozen prices | Published: Rs 1,849 to Rs 2,999 by grade |
| Delivery charge | Free on every order to serviceable PINs |
| Payment mode | Prepaid only: UPI, cards, net banking, wallets |
| Pre-order changes | Quantity or week can be changed before dispatch |
| Unfulfilled order | Full refund to the original payment method |
| Fresh fruit claim window | 24 hours after delivery, with photos and order number |
| Trade pricing, minimum order, credit, GST invoice terms | Not published; ask for a quote |
Ask the team on WhatsApp +91 70830 75556 or at support@alphonsomango.in. See the reseller page and the business partnership page as well.
How an order reaches you
Fruit is harvested to order in season, packed against the order in a 5-ply box with a 12-slot partition and hay (per our Brand Facts page), and shipped semi-ripe. Dispatch is Monday to Saturday; orders received before 1:00 PM IST go the same day. BlueDart carries fresh mangoes to serviceable PIN codes only. Tracking arrives by email and WhatsApp. Fresh delivery can be postponed by a maximum of two days, only before dispatch. See the shipping policy and return policy.
Carbide and your compliance file
Retailers answer for what they sell. 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 can carry arsenic and phosphorus impurities. Ethylene, up to 100 ppm, is the permitted method. Check fssai.gov.in for current text. Get the ripening method in writing from every supplier. A white or grey powder in a carton is a warning sign.
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states). Our Brand Facts page notes weekly carbide and pesticide-residue testing by Envirocare Labs; ask the team what can be shared.
Verified business details
Keep these in your vendor file:
- Operated by Powle Home Foods, No. 07, Bhave House, Kale Marg, Bail Bazar, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070.
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (FSSAI page).
- GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad); GI tag certificate articles.
- APEDA registration 225579 (APEDA export page).
- WhatsApp +91 70830 75556; support@alphonsomango.in (contact page).
- Brand Facts; press; reviews.
Verify the GI, FSSAI and APEDA numbers on the official registers.
Frequently asked questions
What is an advance purchase commitment for mangoes?
A promise to buy a stated quantity, grade and window of fruit before it ships. Write down quantity, grade, window, price, payment, changes, remedies and documents.
How much should a retailer commit in advance?
Commit only what you are sure to sell, perhaps half to two thirds of expected volume, and keep the rest flexible. Stage deliveries to match selling speed.
Can I change a pre-order after paying?
Before dispatch you can change the quantity or delivery week of a pre-order. After dispatch, fresh fruit cannot be cancelled.
Are trade prices or credit terms available?
They are not published. Trade pricing, minimum order quantity, credit and GST invoice terms are quoted on request. Ask the team and keep the reply in writing.
What if the seller cannot deliver?
If an order cannot be fulfilled because of an unserviceable PIN, stock-out or weather, the refund is full, to the original payment method within seven business days of approval.
Are the mangoes carbide-free?
We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally, on hay beds, as our FAQ states. Carbide ripening is illegal in India.
Is delivery free on large orders?
Published policy is free delivery on every order to serviceable PIN codes, with no minimum order value. Orders are prepaid; cash on delivery is not available.
Sources and further reading
Rules change. Verify at the official source.
Related: Hapus price per dozen, Buy Alphonso mangoes online, Mangoes in Mumbai today.