The mango season in Andalusia has very tight schedules due to the great production of the Osteen variety (the favorite among growers), which is harvested from September to October. This situation could change by diversifying the production. That would make it possible to supply the European market with mangoes from July to December.
CSIC researcher Iñaki Hormaza, of the Institute of Subtropical and Mediterranean Horticulture (IHSM) La Mayora, explained that in the Eastern Costa del Sol, and specifically in the region of La Axarquía, this crop "has expanded a lot in recent years and the acreage has reached 5,000 hectares."
Hormaza said that the IHSM La Mayora believes that planting a single variety, the Osteen, which "accounts for more than 80 percent" of the region's acreage, has become a problem. It has resulted in much of the mango production "arriving at the same time during a very specific period, with the difficulties that this entails."
"We believe that it would be very good to diversify the crops and thus have different varieties, so that the harvest window can be expanded," said Hormaza, who said that the IHSM La Mayora has "a collection of more than eighty mango varieties from around the world."
He explained that for several years, this institute has carried out studies to determine "which are the most suitable varieties for commercial cultivation," and the vast majority can be grown commercially in this area of Andalusia, so "having five or six varieties could be interesting for the producers."
"With the right choice of varieties, we would have open ground mangoes available from late July to December," said Hormaza, who also said this diversity would also lead to consumers becoming familiar with new mango flavors, since "each variety has a distinct taste."
The list of mango varieties that can be grown in the eastern Costa del Sol includes the "Manzanillo, Osteen, Irwin, Lippens, Zili, Ataulfo, Sensation, Kent, Valencia Pride or Keitt. These represent a broad range of flavors that many consumers are unfamiliar with.
Hormaza said that this issue (and others) will be discussed in the seminar "Subtropical fruit trees in Spain, present and future challenges", organized by the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP), to be held in La Mayora between 15 and 19 October.
Source: EFE
