Though Peruvian mango imports for the season have trailed those from the previous season, the pace of current imports is still on track to meet initial projections.By the last week of February, 7.3 million boxes of mangos had been shipped to the United States from Peru. That's less than the 11.5 million boxes that had been shipped by the same time last season, though weekly shipments steadily accumulated on track to the projected 9.0 million boxes for the current season. Weekly shipments are expected to decrease until the end of the season in mid-April.
Shipments from Mexico, which began arriving earlier this year, have been comparable to those from last season. For the third week in February this year, over 715,000 boxes of mangos had been sent from Mexico, which, while less than the 1.1 million boxes sent during the same week last year, still puts the season total for this year close to the one from the same point in the season last year.
On February 27, prices for a flat of Kent 7s from Peru were between $6.00 and $7.50 at the Philadelphia port of entry and South Florida ports of entry. At Southern California ports of entry, prices were slightly higher, falling between $7.00 and $9.00. Out of Mexico, a flat of Kent 7s went for between $7.50 and $8.00 at Texas crossings, and prices for a flat of Ataulfo 12s were between $8.00 and $9.00 at those same crossings.