Mango Transition North
EDJ ( el original) open, Nayarit Ataulfos coming, Summer Mango Mania ahead!
Despite persistent challenges, conversations with consumers and distributors revealed a remarkable discovery: significant #MangoJoy is driving consistent, profitable sales of #MuchosMangoes despite the many complexities. Shoppers remain excited despite tariff scares, higher prices and climate-change induced unpredictability.
My latest crop report covers the next several weeks into the transition north, highlights Empaque Don Jorge (El Original) opening and previews Summer Mango Mania—launching mid-June, including our popular Crespo Organic Mango Queen specialty mangoes.
Despite the challenges I’ve faced orchestrating this season’s mango program, I’m looking ahead at the transition and summer months through mango-blush-colored glasses. I want to focus on the positivity ahead while acknowledging the hard work to come, making sure we’re ready for #MuchosMangoes—because like always they’re on their way.
Bottom line: the organic side stays tight for several more weeks until production shifts to our more voluminous northern growing zones. There, Empaque Don Jorge—Latin America’s largest hydrothermic mango packhouse—eagerly awaits to pack more fruit and ship it with shorter transit times and greater ease to both Nogales and McAllen distribution centers.
Here’s what to expect in the weeks to come:
Northern Transition
Climate change drives unpredictability—from bloom and sizing to yields—and unprecedented retailer demand has tightened supplies at every stage. Despite uncertain northern volumes, Nayarit and Sinaloa offer reason for optimism: decades of high-volume service, border proximity, reliable lanes and large packhouses built for volume. This transition is already underway—the next few weeks will be tough, but once fully in motion, conditions should improve and may even exceed expectations.
Timing of the Shift
We expect the northward move to start next week and finish fully by the end of May, positioning us perfectly to launch Crespo Organic Summer Mango Mania #MuchosMangoes and deliver serious #MangoJoy. Organic programs rely almost entirely on southern Mexico during this window, but this year Nayarit’s schedule arrives on time and aligns with the early end of Oaxaca and Chiapas, promising a smoother transition business as far as we can tell.
Ataulfos Up Close
Southern Ataulfos are at the season’s end, they are in short supply and mature. In about 10 days, organic Nayarit Ataulfos will arrive at Empaque Don Jorge in Sinaloa for packing and shipping and the new crop will take us through Nayarit and Sinaloa through mid to end of July (timing to be predicated later). Until then expect larger, mature 12-14-counts mainly fruit from our southern packhouses: Los Gorditos, Bola de Oro and Empaque Don Jorge II. Southern fruit is offering peak sweetness but is ripening more quickly, as it does in the end; Nayarit’s new crop will arrive firmer, with excellent BRIX but still a longer ripening window. Upcoming inventories will overlap and have mixed ripeness profiles—rotate fruit carefully at wholesale and retail.
Round Fruit Advancements
Southern regions will supply fruit through mid-May. With Oaxaca volumes diminished and rains prompting early finishes, our normal selective harvesting will bridge the gap—though only barely until Nayarit ramps up. Average counts stay large (6–9), with few small sizes. As smaller packhouses close or cut back, trucks free up for more precise, timely border deliveries. Transitions are inherently challenging; together, we’ll navigate and make it work.
Easter–Cinco Crunch
Easter and Cinco de Mayo fell so close it makes this transition seem harder than it may otherwise be. Packhouses closed Thursday before Easter and didn’t reopen until Monday—yet Oaxaca and Chiapas fruit (4–5 days out) still had to be picked and packed. With Cinco demand peaking on Monday, Thursday–Friday shipments ran tight. Shortages exist. Relief should arrive once this week’s backlog clears. Which is after Cinco de Mayo.
Quality Reality Check
Quality isn’t great, its generally clean but with lots of mixed maturities ( which I wrote about at the onset of the season due to blooming woes). Externally, mangoes look fair: minimal hot-water damage or skin blemishes—and everything is tasting quite good. Overall quality is acceptable, with no major complaints.
June “Blooms” with Promotions
Once volume and variety rebound by late May good news blooms—including incoming Kents and our Mango Queen specialty mangoes—Summer Mango Mania runs June 15–July 31st and into august. Preparations are in motion for another exicting mania season, with lots of our signature #MangoEd and live, virtual events and mango experiences country wide. Each season proves that despite obstacles, peak summer production delivers #MuchosMangoes and plenty of #MangoJoy. And we are ready!