Over a hundred years ago, the Jayapal family didn’t have much, just a few mangoes to survive on. They weren’t farmers by choice but by necessity. Back then, it was just about growing enough to eat and sell to make sure the next day wasn’t harder than the one before. But from that simple start, something incredible grew.

Today, A Jayapal is in his orchard, his hands stained yellow from the mangoes he’s carefully sorting and packing. The air is thick with heat, and the scent of ripening fruit fills the space around him.

Jayapal’s family didn’t follow the usual story of climbing corporate ladders or seeking fortune in cities. They stayed grounded in the fields, under the sun, with their hands in the soil. What began as a struggle to survive has evolved into a legacy built around one fruit they’ve always loved: the mango.

For the Jayapals, it’s never been about the quick win. It’s about steady work, dedication, and passion — traits passed down through the generations. Over the years, this family has gone from scraping by to becoming a name known for their quality mangoes. And through it all, that love for the mango, a fruit that once meant survival, has remained at the heart of everything they do.

A childhood in trade

A. Jayapal’s association with mangoes began at an age when most children were still learning to hold their pencils right. Born into a family where mango trading was already a part of life, his childhood was shaped by the noise of the fruit market rather than the classroom.

“I studied only until class one because I did not have the resources or time to study,” recalls Jayapal, now 76 years old. “My father, Arumuga Gownder, and his business partner, Palani Gownder, were involved in the mango trade. My mother, Kanthayammal, would carry baskets of mangoes to sell, while my father had a pushcart at the Salem bus stand,” he adds.

Tragedy struck when Jayapal lost his father in 1961 at just 12 years old, leaving him to shoulder the responsibility of supporting his mother. To make ends meet, he started working at his father’s partner’s shop, earning a modest Rs 30 a month.

“My duties included travelling to places like Vellore, Chennai, and Bengaluru to manage mango sales,” recalls Jayapal. In 1964, he was sent to oversee a........

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