Summer is not the ideal season for mangoes in Italy. Domestic summer fruit more than meets demands, so mangoes are not imported very much. "We reduce quantities by 85% during the summer. Prices are average at around €5/kg. In winter months, if there are no problems due to the bad weather, we can reach €10/kg," explains Paolo Bernardi from Cazzola in the Bologna market.
"In Italy, we can talk about three types of mango. First: mangoes imported by sea and sold as is. Quality is medium-low and they are often used in the H&R sector to prepare fresh fruit salads. Alternatively, they can be found in certain discount stores. Second: ready-to-eat mangoes imported by sea from central America and placed in ripening units with ethylene. Third: produce imported by air from Mexico or central Africa. They are harvested at a more advanced ripening stage and have a much better flavour."
The Tommy Atkins variety, one of the most popular, is generally imported from Mexico. The same variety is also imported by air from Africa (Mali and Ivory Coast) and quality is considered to be better, even though shelf-life is shorter.
"We are distributors and get our produce from importers. The fruit arrives in 6 kg crates containing 8 fruits. If they are starting to ripen, the shelf-life should be of 15 days but we try to sell everything within 7 days."