Mangoes are still yielding solid prices. "There isn't much available. The Peruvian season has all but ended, Brazil is drawing to a close, and then it's waiting for other countries. No large volumes are coming in from Costa Rica either, so then we'll have to wait for the African countries and Puerto Rico," one importer says. He mentions how many growers in Brazil have switched to the Palmer variety in recent years. "Unbelievable, because the consumer goes for the Keitt and Kent."
According to the importer, the potential for African mango production and export is a lot bigger than is currently made use of. "They have free water, sun, land and cheap labour. Relatively speaking, Africa is just around the corner for Europe, and there are also opportunities for subsidies from Brussels. It's just that not a lot is being done with that yet."