Mango season is revving up, and the category continues to be a lucrative one.
Although last year's volume of about 1.1 billion pounds was down slightly from 2023 shipments, value was up from about $571 million in 2023 to about $679 million in 2024, according to USDA figures.
Shipments started out on the low side this year, but by mid-April they were approaching year-ago volume, said Chris Ciruli, partner at Ciruli Bros. LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz.
Last year was not a banner year, though, and he expected this year's volume to surpass that of 2024 in May.
“The day we're targeting for hitting full stride on the mango program would be May 15,” he said.
Ciruli Bros. was receiving more large yellow mangoes than small ones this season, he said, but the opposite was the case for round mangoes.
“The rounds are running more small fruit and less big fruit,” he said.
Ciruli was hopeful that would change, but he said that was not likely to happen before mid-May.
The quality of mangoes from Miami-based Continental Fresh is excellent this season, said CEO Albert Perez. The fruit has “clean skin, strong Brix levels and great internal quality.”
Sizing has been mostly on the medium-to-small side, which he said lends itself to good retail promotions.
“Despite some early-season weather challenges, our grower relationships and sourcing flexibility have helped maintain strong and consistent supplies,” he said.
Volume should be steady to slightly above last year's.
Continental Fresh imports mangoes year round with the peak supply window from Mexico running from March to September, Perez explained. Ecuador and Brazil are sources from September to January, and Peru exports mangoes from December to March.
“This allows us to ensure uninterrupted availability of fresh mangoes to our retail partners and consumers,” Perez said.
The honey, or ataulfo, mango program at G-M Produce Sales LLC, Hidalgo, Texas, is growing, said JoJo Shiba, West Coast director.
“More and more people are falling in love with the rich, exotic taste of honey mangoes,” Shiba said.
The company added two sizes to its regular size lineup a few years ago and has seen those sizes grow tremendously in popularity, she added.
“We now offer a jumbo size 10 pack and baby mangoes,” Shiba said.
These offerings typically are only available during small windows during the season, “but people cannot get enough of them,” she said. “We are seeing more and more requests for these special sizes as the love for honey mangoes continues to grow.”
The mango harvest slowed around Easter, because many Hispanic workers took time off to take part in Holy Week services, Ciruli explained, but there was enough fruit in the pipeline to get through the holiday.
Meeting Cinco de Mayo demand could be a challenge, though, because that day falls only about two weeks after Easter this year, he said.
When it comes to consumer preferences, ataulfo mangoes continue to grow in popularity due to their creamy texture and rich flavor, said Perez of Continental Fresh. However, tommy atkins remains a staple for many retailers because of its durability and long shelf life.
“Keitts are also favored later in the season for their size and minimal fiber,” Perez said.
Continental Fresh has a Water For All label that has a strong corporate social responsibility component that gives back to water projects in Latin America, Perez added.
“Helping to tell that story through in-store signage and our PLU QR code that allows the consumer to learn about these water projects is a great way to engage today's conscious consumers,” he said.
The mango deal in the Mexican state of Chiapas is winding down, and Michoacan will start packing tommy atkins and large kent mangoes the first or second week of May, said Shiba of G-M Produce Sales. A new area, Nayarit, will start shipping yellow mangoes the second week of May, she said.
When it comes to shipping mangoes, Tampa, Fla.-based IFCO Systems US LLC recommends reusable plastic containers.
RPCs offer better ventilation for more consistent ripening and cooling, keeping product fresher longer, said Nathan Klingler, director, strategic marketing for the Americas. They also reduce damage, as the plastic walls supports product weight to eliminate corrugate failure and pressure bruising, he said.
And the expanded pack reduces material cost and handling during packing, Klingler said.
“When packing fruit like mangoes, the last thing you want is packaging collapse,” said Rick Overholt, the company's vice president of grower sales. “IFCO RPCs are durable enough to hold their shape and protect the fruit from pressure damage.”