The National Mango Board - from the United States Agriculture Department - who's mission is to raise the consumption of mango in the US, had its first meeting in Brazil on Wednesday 28th in Petrolina (PE). In the meeting, SEBRAE will start the Manual for Good Practices in the Mango Post-harvest Handling.

The manual was made to satisfy the importing requirements from the US, and its a fruit of the working cooperation related professionals from several countries, including Brazil. The Portuguese edition was organized by SEBRAE. 2,000 copies are made available, but it can also be freely downloaded at www.sebrae.com.br/setor/fruticultura.

Apart from SEBRAE, the manual counted on the participation of representatives from the National Mango Board and Valexport - Asociaciation of Horticultural and derivatives Exporters from the San Francisco Valley, among other associates and mango producers, in a group formed by about 3,000 fruit producers. Presently, the US import 98% of mangoes consumed in the country. From that, 8% come from Brazil.

According to Marilda Peele, director for Institutional Relations, "the National Mango Board promotes 3 meetings per year. The first one is during Spring - present season in the North Hemisphere - and happened in one of the countries that exports the most to the US. And it's the first time happening in Brazil".