News
Update: USDA Shifts & Hours Reduction
Mexican USDA inspector branch now falls under U.S. Embassy oversight (This is an update from Thursdays breaking news.) The USDA branch in Mexico, which manages APHIS certifications like the hot water treatment required for mangoes, has recently undergone a significant structural shift. Now, suddenly, operating under the authority of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, the…
Continue ReadingUSDA Inspectors Reduced
We “dodged” tariffs, but not cuts…. There’s always breaking news in produce—it’s just part of the gig. But lately, the whiplash feels extra brutal. One minute we’re dodging tariffs (pun 100% intended), the next we’re taking hits in unexpected places—like this weeks news of USDA inspector staffing cuts. Produce people are wired for high-stakes hustle.…
Continue Reading{Mango} Hunger Games
Organic Mango Crop Report: markets, mayhem and hopefully some resistance This crop report follows the same theme as the last—confusion. But it also serves as a reminder of how quickly confusion spirals into mayhem and short-sighted, conventional-style thinking. That knee-jerk reaction is the most common response in this debacle we call the current state of…
Continue ReadingCrop Report = Mango Confusion
Sometimes a report lacking information tells all I’ve reported countless times over the past many years about how climate change has made everything wildly unpredictable. So, am I surprised by how erratic and confusing things are in the orchards right now? Not at all. I often use the word unravel when it comes to my…
Continue ReadingThe Blooming North!
A mango tree’s flowers signal potential for #MuchosMangoes Flowers have been on my mind this week, thanks to the flourishing displays at my local farmers market here in Northern California. I picked up tulips and peonies—flowers just make me happy. The same kind of happiness a mango orchard in full bloom brings, which is happening…
Continue ReadingTariffs & The Cashflow Conundrum
Unraveling some of the more important details in the chaos I woke up this morning expecting every produce publication to have in-depth analysis on the chaos that unfolded at the border yesterday. The real, nitty-gritty details. Hoping to hear more than just the usual “things will be more expensive” chatter. I think all of us…
Continue ReadingMango Market Bumps Ahead
Mexican mango demand surge begins amidst constricted supplies, price hikes loom We’re accustomed to bumpy starts to the Mexican mango season on the organic side, as organic Peruvian volumes tend to disappear much faster than conventional mangoes. The arrival of Ataulfo mangoes from Mexico is always met with excitement during this period of scarcity. Given…
Continue ReadingMexican Season Availability
Questions, complexity & truths, form my organic perspective Mexico has one of the longest mango export seasons in the world, spanning nearly 10 months as production moves north along the Pacific Rim. The harvest begins in the south in late January or early February in Oaxaca and Chiapas. As the season progresses, it moves through…
Continue ReadingAtaulfo Marketing 101
A little mango-ed in time for promoting Mexico’s yellow slipper Despite a sluggish start to the Mexican mango season, Ataulfo mangoes are finally ready to bring some much-needed #MangoJoy. Our loyal program participants can now expect sufficient—if not ample—supplies to satisfy the growing community of dedicated consumers we’ve cultivated over the past decade and beyond—consumers…
Continue ReadingPatience & Promise
Current crop report echoes cries for patience but flashes promise As reported last week, the Mexican mango season has officially begun, but patience remains absolutely crucial. To reiterate and update: Crespo Organic Ataulfos are expected to begin landing next week, but in very limited quantities. The fruit in general from Mexico continues to follow a…
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