The Mexican mango industry has been picking and packing in the remote southern regions of Chiapas and Oaxaca. "The virus has so far stayed far from the region," says a crop update from Crespo Organic. "The northern regions are trickier - despite the mango packhouses being located in more remote locations of the regions, the northern regions are much more intermingled with larger towns and cities." Read more in this extensive update from Crespo Organic.
Overall, the weather continues to be cooperative throughout Mexico. Ample volumes of fruit will continue to appear as the warmer summer months progress. Prices are currently looking stable compared to this time in previous years.
Breakdown by region
Oaxaca is expected to finish off the season by the first of May. This is an earlier than usual by about 3 weeks, likely due to warmer weather. Ataulfos are just about finished from Oaxaca, so only Tommy Atkins will be coming out of this region for the remaining weeks – mostly large fruit.
Chiapas will wind down around the first week of May. Expect all sizes of Tommy’s and a trickling of Ataulfos, mostly on the small to mid-range size, as the region finishes.
Michoacán is currently revving up. Despite having a lower volume overall, there is a decent amount of fruit. Michoacán continues to be less predictable. What can be predicted is the notoriously small fruit coming from the region (peaks of 10-12). For a few weeks, this will offer a wide array of sizing options. After the large fruit stops, the market is expected to have a shortage of large fruit. Hayden mangoes, along with Tommy Atkin mangoes, grow in this region.
Nayarit is expected to start their seasonal harvest around May 10th, maybe a little earlier. This is when the Ataulfo volumes will jump back and stay voluminous until the end of July. Tommy Atkins abound in this region. Although, a wide variety of sizes is what most orchard observers predict based on their historical insight.
Sinaloa fruit continues to develop well, but start dates, volumes, etc. are too early to predict.
COVID-19 impacts
Most packhouses will open for the northern region’s onset as planned but at less packing capacity for at least the next several weeks, as they reduce numbers of people in each packhouse to safeguard employee health. For the most part, this will mean lower output, which changes their economics and increases costs associated with running fast-paced growing, picking, packing, and shipping systems with less people and more health and safety checks involved.
Organic offerings
Organic volumes will continue to be ample and will continue to be priced economically, moving into and through Mexico’s most ample production zones. The organic sector has retained strong demand with the fresh mango commodity and in general with organic produce.
For more information:
Nissa Pierson
Crespo Organic
Email: nissa@ger-nis.com
www.crespoorganic.com