"Being between seasons makes mango market tricky"

Since the mango season is currently between seasons, the next three weeks are going to be tricky. This is according to Jan Vermeiren of Exofi Fresh Market, a Belgian import company. He, however, expects the market to soon pick up again. "The Spanish mango season has just ended, and mangoes are not yet available from Brazil. This means the Kent variety's supply is very low", he admits.

According to Jan, they are now awaiting mangoes to be flown into Belgium from Peru. "This week, the mangoes from Peru were not yet ready to eat", he continues. "Only the Keitt and Palmer varieties were ready, but these are not suited for the Belgian market. Next week, the Kent variety from Peru will probably be ready and can be imported. After 30 years' experience with Peru, we know that the quality of the mangoes is still good. When they are not of good quality, we do not fly them in. We are optimistically awaiting to see what we get. Until then, our customers will have to make do with other exotic alternatives, of different origins and varieties."

Since the overseas market for Kents from Peru is not yet ready, Jan says they have to wait a little longer for a new load. Getting mangoes from other countries is, according to him, not always an option. "We do not trade with Australia, and Ecuadorian mangoes are not firm favourites with Belgian consumers", he says. "Belgians prefer non-fibrous mangoes from, for example, Spain, Brazil or Peru; which the ones from Ecuador are not. You then cannot sell these. Belgian consumers stick to products and origins that are familiar to them."