The Mexican season for organic mangos started a little early this year, and the overall prospects for the season look good. Fernando Valle of Terra Fresh Organics shares: “Typically, our season runs from the beginning of February through the middle of September. So far, we have already had a few loads come in about a week earlier than usual this year, which tells us that harvest is a bit ahead of schedule.”
Terra Fresh Organics works with independent grower groups in Oaxaca, Nayarit, Southern Sinaloa and Northern Sinaloa. “This gives us a full window of supply from the start to the finish of the Mexican mango season,” says Valle. The season will run through the middle of September, if the weather allows. “The rains in Mexico determine how late in the season we go. If the rain comes sooner, the season will end a few weeks early, but if the rain comes a little later, we can extend our season through the first weeks of September,” Valle adds.
Successful season expected
The growers that Terra Fresh works with grow Ataulfo, Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt mangos. “The most popular variety is the Kent variety because it is a stronger piece of fruit with a longer shelf life,” says Valle. Once the season moves to the Northern Sinaloa region in Los Mochis, the demand will pick up, he says, explaining: “In this region, the mangos are not hot water treated, so they are stronger pieces of fruit that give the customers and retailers longer shelf life and better flavor in general.”
This season, volumes are expected to be up slightly, and it looks like it will be a good season. “For the most part, the fields our growers manage have not been impacted by any weather-related issues this season. All signs so far indicate that it is going to be a successful season. The projected volumes for our growers this season are comparable to last season, with the hopes that we may see a slight increase in production of perhaps a 10-15% year-over-year increase,” Valle adds.
Rising demand for organic mangos
The demand for organic mangos has been rising over the years and this year, due to the pandemic, has gotten an additional boost. “The demand for organic mangos has steadily increased year-over-year and the consumers are more educated than ever because they have access to information like never before. We work to create more awareness and consumer interest through our promos, which are helping us grow the mango category as a staple item,” Valle says.
The outbreak of the pandemic has brought with it a unique set of challenges for everyone. Valle says: “There are challenges due to the pandemic that we’ve never experienced before. For example, many growers have not been able to hire as many field workers to pick the fruit and less staff is allowed in packing houses, leading to less efficiency across the supply chain.” Despite this, the pandemic has also helped boost the demand for organic products: “As people are shifting toward healthier eating habits and want to try new things, the organic produce sales have been driven in a positive direction. We also work with growers that we know have excellent quality, which helps drive our sales as customers know they will be getting the highest quality,” he concludes.
For more information:
Nicole Minnich-Zapata
Terra Fresh Organics
Tel: +1 (831) 200-2711
Email: nzapata@misionero.com
www.terrafreshorganics.com