Mexican mango supplies for Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Ciruli Bros. will continue to increase through April, peaking for the Cinco de Mayo holiday, says Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer.
The peak of the mango deal will be between May through July for both round varieties and the company’s Champagne-branded ataulfo mango, he said.
“As the Chiapas season tapers down in early May, we will transition north with fruit from Nayarit by the week of May 13, moving on to Sinaloa a few weeks following for an early June start,” Ciruli said.
The variety mix will change slightly for Ciruli Bros. as harvest moves, he said.
“We will continue with Champagnes, our brand for yellow mangoes, and add kent and keitt mangos as we get closer to fall,” Ciruli said. “We will continue to market our kent and keitt mangoes in the Mr. Mango, Super Mango, and Señor Mango brand names.”
Ciruli Bros. had good mango volume during March, Ciruli said.
“The support we received from our customers has been very favorable, and we hope it continues for the summer,” he said. “We take our quality program seriously and wait for fruit to be ready before we harvest.
"Mango quality and flavor has been especially outstanding this season on account of ample rains in the fall, which made our trees healthy," he continued. "This resulted in heavy leaf load, which coupled with good temperatures, kept the Brix-to-acid ratios at ideal levels for maximum flavor."
In the coming months, Ciruli said the marketer is optimistic that volume will be more consistent, although labor and rising costs continue to be an issue. Ciruli Bros. expects sizing will peak between 10- and 12-count cartons on tommy atkins and kents, eight-count cartons for keitts and 18- and-20 count cartons on Champagne mangoes.