According to the market’s owner, Hamlin Stephenson, heat was not the only factor: “We had a lot of strong winds that blew off a lot of the mangoes.”
Arthur De Bis, produce manager at Hurley’s supermarket, said the rains of a few weeks ago also negatively impacted the crop. The combination of these factors, Mr. De Bis said, have made this season ‘the worst ever’: “My assistant said they haven’t seen anything like this for the last 20 years.”
De Bis said he’s having to import about 80 flats of mangoes -mostly from Mexico- each week, in order to stock his shelves. Normally, he said, the store would only be ordering 8 to 10 flats from off island, with the rest coming from local growers.
Those marketing the fruit are hoping things will improve. There are three waves of mangoes during the summer months as various varieties reach ripeness. And while the first wave has been disappointing, the second wave, which is expected to hit in two to three weeks, should be at least a little better. Mr. Collins said in the coming weeks, consumers can expect to see the East Indian, Julie and Nam Doc varieties appear in stands and on store shelves.
The Cayman Compass claims that even if production picks up, this year is pretty much a loss. None of the more than 70 varieties of mango trees is doing well. And the third wave of the crop, late in the summer, is expected to be disappointing as well.
