Report: the mango shortage continues
And other very important intel
Hello everybody -
I have decided to start a newsletter. The newsletter’s objective is simple. I’d like to answer some pressing questions: What is new and exciting right now at Berkeley Bowl? Can we expect to find ramps yet? What about green plums? Did fuyu persimmons suddenly go out of stock much earlier in the winter than in past years (for 2024, the answer was quite disappointingly yes)?
This newsletter does not aim to sell you anything; my primary goal is to simply tell you what is worth noting in terms of availability. I will do my best not to become just a recommendations blog (I don’t know if we need any more of those), but it would be nearly impossible not to operate from a position of great bias and excitement when it comes to certain items. I just genuinely wish for you to enjoy the best that produce has to offer each season, and hope that you can find some good snacks in between.
All information will be up to date within a few days of publishing - I can’t be held accountable if you swarm the Propitious Mango and they all sell out.
If you’d like to subscribe, please do! I will never charge for my intel, but of course if you want to support me financially so I can always have Comte cheese in my fridge I won’t say no.
This all started because a huge problem has come to my attention: the famous, beloved, bagged dried mangos in the Berkeley Bowl bulk section have been conspicuously missing. For months!
I am dating someone who is a BBowl dried mango devotee and since I live very nearby to Oregon St we visit the bulk section at least once a week for mango recon. It’s been about 6? months since you could consistently find dried mango in the bagged section. And more recently, there is no dried mango in the bin section either!
There used to be generic, Organic, and Extra Fancy Organic mango available, and now… barely anything.
So what the hell is going on? Has there been a Sriracha style crisis affecting the mango supply chain?
I’ll be honest, I’m a bit too worried about looking suspicious at my favorite grocery store to do some real digging. Passive recon is easy, active investigation is daunting. I’m hoping I become braver over time. I’m not an actual journalist, just an ethusiast!!
I did ask the person working in bulk at West if it’s been hard to get mango lately, and they nodded. They did say that the mangoes should refill on Wednesdays at West, and then any extra stock will go to Oregon St. Vaguely promising…. So the mangoes still exist, they’re just trickling in very slowly.
Anyways, I will continue to keep an eye out on the mango situation, and let you all know if any developments come up.
In good mango news, the social media famous Propitious Mango ice cream is somehow in stock and has been for a short while. It’s a mango ice cream bar covered in a layer of perfectly mango colored white chocolate.
I’ve also seen Propitious Peach, which is a bit more yogurty in flavor. You might even like them more if you are more of a frozen yogurt person than an ice cream person.
They are going for $11.99 for three pieces, and I’ll be completely honest - they’re extremely worth it and I highly suggest you try them. Spotted at both Oregon St and West.
In other news:
Dekopon oranges are still very much in stock at both locations.
You can still find the scallion pancake Lays (they are basically Pringles) at Oregon St, in the “Asian” section or by checkout. I forgot to check West.
West has been stocking these pretty funny Bbowl branded slippers for $12.99.
Anyways - that’s all for now! Until next time! Thanks for reading!
The news we need!
Btw, as of tonight, scallion pancake Lays *are* at West!
When they said ~niche down~ this is what they meant!!