“Right now we have a lot of mango from Mexico but the quality is not the greatest and therefore prices are down,” says Alvaro Perpuly of Miami, Fl.-based Redlands Best. “Right now they’re as low as $2/box.”
Anthracnose, those black spots that can be found sometimes on mangoes, has developed thanks in part to a rainy season. “They had a lot of rain and it was an odd season because of the temperatures,” says Perpuly “Rain is the worst enemy of mangoes and the quality has suffered quite a bit.”
A little too late
Part of the problem is that the anthracnose isn’t being detected until it’s too late. “In Florida, we pick mango with great ripeness,” says Perpuly. “But in Mexico, they have to pick it almost green and they don’t see the anthracnose until it gets ripe. So when they come through and get the hot water treatments and everything looks fine, at the stores, there have been a lot of complaints about quality.”
That said, volumes may start to climb because, as Perpuly notes, the fruit needs to be picked. “But I don’t see the market gaining any strength in relation to prices,” he says. “I think volume is going to be steady for the next two weeks but maybe they have to increase the volume because they have to pick fruit. But prices will stay the same and volume will go up because they need to pick.”
For more information:
Alvaro Perpuly
Redlands Best
Tel: +1-305-216-0565
alvarop@redlandsb.com
That said, volumes may start to climb because, as Perpuly notes, the fruit needs to be picked. “But I don’t see the market gaining any strength in relation to prices,” he says. “I think volume is going to be steady for the next two weeks but maybe they have to increase the volume because they have to pick fruit. But prices will stay the same and volume will go up because they need to pick.”
For more information:
Alvaro Perpuly
Redlands Best
Tel: +1-305-216-0565
alvarop@redlandsb.com