Over the years, the NMB has done extensive research that demonstrates that ripe fruit has higher acceptance rates within consumers. Armed with this information, the Ripe and Ready to Eat Mango Program (RRTEMP) was designed to provide U.S. consumers with a quality fruit that is ripe and ready to eat by the time of purchase. This program provides mangos with a marketing advantage by eliminating the obstacle for consumers purchasing fruit short of its desired ripeness.
The NMB has developed multiple tools such as minimum maturity indices, temperature management protocols and fruit sensory descriptions to encourage a quality product throughout the supply chain. In addition, the NMB has created a Mango Handling and Ripening Protocol, designed to help improve mango handling practices in the U.S., leading to better quality mangos, greater consumer acceptance, and higher mango sales. Topics covered in the protocol include; Mango Maturity and Ripeness, Mango Temperature Management, Mango Storage and Transportation, and Mango Handling and Merchandising at the Store.
“The purpose of this conference is to bring together fruit ripening experts and share their knowledge and experience with mango stakeholders interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities of ripening mangos,” stated NMB Executive Director Manuel Michel. “If you want to learn first-hand from those who already have successful ripening programs, I strongly encourage you to attend this free conference. In addition, it will be a great opportunity to meet other like-minded mango industry members. It’s not every day that you can bring this much fruit ripening expertise and knowledge to a single location.”
The conference will showcase an experienced fruit ripening panel that have knowledge in successful ripening programs. The following is a list of conference speakers who will be in attendance:
- Bo Brett, Chief Operating Officer, Mountain View Fruit
- Gary Campisi, Sr. Director of Quality Control, Wal-Mart Stores
- Dr. Carlos Crisosto, University of California at Davis
- Jan Delyser, VP of Marketing, California Avocado Commission
- Dennis Kihlstadius, Chief Executive Officer, Produce Technical Services
- Wendy McManus, Retail Program Manager, National Mango Board
- James Merkel, Fruit Ripener, Raley’s Supermarkets
- Dr. Jorge Osuna Garcia, Mexico’s National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP)
For more information on mango handling best practices, visit mango.org/retail/best-practices. For a copy of the mango Handling and Ripening Protocol, visit mango.org/industry/production-and-post-harvest-practices.
Please RSVP for the Ripe and Ready to Eat Mango Conference to Anna Deschamps-Polonia by emailing APolonia@mango.org.