As the Chiapas region of Mexico winds down their production of Ataulfo mangos, imports to the US will experience a brief break. As production ramps up in Mexico's northern states, importers will once again have good volumes of the fruit.Gary Clevenger, of Freska Produce, notes that the window for imported Ataulfo mangos is broken up into two periods. The first window opens in the beginning of February and goes to the middle of March. The second period starts up in April and runs through July.
"We have a little break for the Ataulfos right now as production shifts from the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca to the northen state of Sinaloa," says Clevenger.
Prices for fruit were a little expensive during the first part of the import season, he says, but came down as more quantities arrived. Smaller sizes commanded prices around $4.50 per 10 pound box, larger sizes were sold for around $7 per 10 pound box.
Quality was noted to be consistent, though some fruit was affected by unusual rain patterns in Chiapas. But the overall quality has been consistent, notes Clevenger. Consumer consumption has been steadily increasing, he says, as the fruit gains wider acceptance.
"It's a growing commodity," says Clevenger, "as more people learn about the Atualfo, more people consume it."