Pakistan is the world's fifth largest producer of mangoes, growing 1.7 million tons of the fruit every year. And the only way Americans can get access to those mangoes is by purchasing them in Canada, which some people actually do, so delicious is the Pakistan mango reputed to be. CNN has dubbed this "the forbidden mango," interviewing trans-border buyers of the illicit fruit. They show the process of buying and transporting mangoes across the border, a cash-heavy process eerily similar to buying drugs:
But this burgeoning underground market may soon be ending. The Asia Society's Rafaya Sufi writes, "The US recently signaled that it was ready to talk mango with Pakistan in an attempt to ease relations between the two countries—and during her visit to Islamabad last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the country's mangoes could hit US retailers as soon as this winter."
Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at mfisher at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
User Comments
Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register