MANGO VOLUME COMING UP SHORT

Excerpt from Organic Produce Network Newsletter February 1, 2024

With significantly reduced volumes from both Peru and Ecuador, supplies of both organic and conventional mangos are very short and highly priced, with relief still more than a month away. Extreme heat during the bloom period in both countries resulted in very poor sets. Growers in Ecuador reported a 65–75 percent volume reduction while Peru’s estimate was even more severe at 80 percent less than normal. Because of the very high prices and low volume, retailers are taking a big hit. Mangos are a low-priced fruit compared to most other fruit commodities, with volume sales and promotions expected at this time of year. Often mangos are sold for $1 a piece or less with promotional pricing. The current situation has resulted in pricing at three or four times that level in many markets. “Movement is stagnant at retail because of the high retail prices,”.

Nissa Pierson from Crespo Mango says “we currently have good volume on both organic and conventional Ataulfo mangos,” she said, adding that Crespo Organic is providing its customers with a similar volume of fruit on a program basis as it does every year. “And we will be starting our round mango programs soon.”

She said as Mexico ramps up over the next two months, there should be some relief on the extremely high prices currently being quoted on the open market, but “normal” pricing is still at least two months away. “We will see some relief in March but not much,” Pierson predicted.

The organic mango marketer said the transition periods between the various growing regions in Mexico always have the potential of creating gaps and that might be more acute this year because of the shortage situation now in play and the high FOB prices. “Right now, the pricing is as high as I have ever seen,” Pierson said. “It’s double what would be normal.”

Crespo Ataulfo Mexican Mangos have landed at Earl’s with promotable volume on smaller 18ct fruit.

Read the full article here.