The South African Mango Growers' Association (SAMGA) and the Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at preventing the sale of immature mangoes that are artificially ripened with ethylene gas.
According to Francois Knowles, registrar of APAC, the agreement follows recurring cases in recent seasons where buyers purchased unripe mangoes under the pretext of making achar but later treated them with ethylene and sold them at fresh produce markets as ripe fruit. "These mangoes are usually sold early in the season when prices are high. While ethylene improves colour, the fruit remains sour and bitter, leading to a poor eating experience," he told Farmer's Weekly.
Knowles added that research by a major retailer showed that "consumers who had a bad mango experience were unlikely to buy the fruit again for up to 12 weeks." He noted that this practice not only breached market ethics but also weakened consumer confidence and depressed overall demand.
One case in November 2024 highlighted the issue. A consignment of Tommy Atkins mangoes was blocked by Prokon inspectors for failing to meet maturity requirements. The same batch was re-presented a week later and passed based on external colour, though the internal quality had not improved. Reports also suggested that part of the rejected consignment was sold before reinspection.
Under the new MoU, SAMGA and APAC will jointly monitor early-season mangoes entering national fresh produce markets and alert Prokon for maturity inspections. Both organisations will track blocked consignments and take action against market agents found selling immature fruit.
Each October, SAMGA and APAC will issue reminders to market authorities and agents about the risks associated with ethylene-ripened mangoes, urging that such fruit not be traded. They also plan to host a training webinar focused on mango maturity, ripening protocols, and how poor-quality fruit affects consumer demand.
The agreement forms part of a broader effort within South Africa's mango industry to ensure product integrity and maintain consumer trust by strengthening compliance across the supply chain.
Source: Farmer's Weekly
