Many mangoes were displayed in the man's little store

In the bustling marketplace I wandered into in Mumbai, I came across a tiny fruit stall. Calling it a “shop” might have been an overstatement—it was barely more than a modest nook, small enough to resemble a kiosk selling cigarettes or snacks rather than fresh produce. Seeing a fruit vendor operating in such a compact space felt unexpectedly out of place.

The shopkeeper sat on a small stool, surrounded by neatly arranged fruit. Mangoes dominated the display, their golden hues bright against the muted backdrop of the stall. But as I looked closer, I noticed a few other fruits tucked between them.

And then, something truly surprising—a box of cherries.

Cherries growing in India? The idea seemed improbable in this tropical heat. Curious, I examined the packaging and found the source: Himachal Pradesh. This northern Indian state, bordering Tibet to the east, has a vastly different climate from Mumbai. With its cool, mountainous terrain, it provides the perfect conditions for cherries and other fruits that thrive in colder weather.

Standing before this tiny fruit stall in Mumbai, I was reminded once again of India’s sheer geographical and climatic diversity—a vast land where tropical mangoes and cold-weather cherries can coexist, each finding their place in the country’s sprawling markets.

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