Ramesh is what you might call a seasoned plant breeder. In the early 2000s, he developed a mango that could be frozen in the skin and stored for months, peeled like a banana and enjoyed like a popsicle. A great feat since mangoes are known to have a short shelf life, usually less than 10 days (only the pulp can be frozen and used later). Almost all known commercial cultivars are susceptible to frost damage, meaning the fruit cannot withstand sub-zero temperatures. But the variety developed by Ramesh and named Amrutham, which means elixir in Telugu, goes beyond the known boundaries of this tropical fruit.
