Hi everyone,
I realize this may be a bit late in the season, but I am planning ahead for next year and exploring a serious side venture in sourcing Alphonso mangoes directly from farms and distributing them across cities.
I am trying to understand how the pre-harvest contracting model actually works in practice. From what I have gathered, buyers visit orchards before the season, estimate yield, agree on a per-piece or per-tree price, and lock in supply ahead of harvest. I would really appreciate clarity on the following:
- What is the typical ballpark pricing for pre-harvest contracts, either per tree or per fruit
- How yield estimation is done and how reliable it tends to be
- How size grading works in real transactions, for example A, A+, export quality
- What kind of risks should be factored in, especially weather, spoilage, and demand variability
- Typical margins one can realistically expect after logistics and losses
If anyone here is already working with farmers, selling via contracts, or dealing in bulk Alphonso supply, I would value your insights or even a quick conversation.
I am approaching this as a structured side hustle and may also bring in a friend for initial financing, so I want to ensure I understand the ground realities before committing capital.
Appreciate any guidance or direction. Thanks in advance.