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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 Mexican mangoes. (Maybe even the state of the world.) Oaxaca is expected to enter peak next week, which means more fruit is coming soon. It’s worth remembering that mangoes are one of the most popular fruits in the world—one that Americans are only just catching up with, and the momentum is booming. This fruit is as important as a category as organics, so let’s slow down and treat it as such. A reminder to those in the organic sector: sh*t doesn’t work the same way on the organic side as it does on the conventional side. So be careful during times of mayhem—slow down, think, share, and remember that the Mexican mango season is one of the longest fruit seasons that exist. The general crop report of constriction and lack I shared last week remains true and the confusion still blankets the industry, north and south of the border, but to quote one of my favorite conventional sources, “yes the fruit is very tight but we have raised prices to a level that I think can sustain and slow some of the demand as we wait for the fruit that is coming soon.”
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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 Michoacán and Nayarit, concluding in the northern part of Sinaloa, known as Los Mochis. Each region’s climate influences not only the availability, flavor, and quality of mango cultivars but also farmers’ planting decisions. In the humid-tropical south, Ataulfos thrive—no surprise, as they originate from Chiapas. Tommy Atkins, the most adaptable of the round mangoes, is pretty much the only round mango in the south. It does well in all regions and is planted predominantly because it withstands the hot water bath. Other commercial varieties, most of which trace their roots to subtropical Florida—including Tommy Atkins—struggle in the southern regions, which is why there is little diversity among the round varieties in the south.
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Cheery news from the orchard fills our holiday season in hope and promise Roberto Crespo, a key member of the #HermanosCrespos “band”—and what I like to call the lead singer of our southern region—is firmly planted in the soils of Oaxaca and Chiapas, gearing up for the season’s start. This week, he and his brother Jose Angel bring us some encouraging updates straight from our Mexican mango orchards in both regions. While there’s a tentative start date on the horizon and some good (and BIG) news to meet early spring demand, the season may see a slightly slower start due to wind and rain damage to early blooms. Still, the outlook for spring feels like it will be prosperous—much like we hope the new year itself will be. Consider this a little teaser—a sprinkle of hope and #MangoJoy to sweeten the Christmas spirit before we all head off to be with family and friends for the holiday season. Let me gently remind you that weather in the southern region can get a bit wild in early January, particularly in Oaxaca, where the infamous La Ventosa winds often sweep through with a chilly edge. But for now, as we embrace Christmas and step toward the New Year, we’re carrying a whole lot of optimistic hope—and that feels like a great gift for Christmas.
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A timely lesson in the flowers….. By now, we all know that during any mango season, the weeks between when the trees flower and when they begin to set fruit and formation are critical in determining crop outlooks. For the Mexican season, this window runs from now through early January, with particular emphasis on those first weeks of January—when harsh weather and the infamous La Ventosa winds are most likely. These cold winds can knock larger, formed fruit to the ground, potentially impacting the crop. Until the season formally begins, we move forward with the information at hand, assessing, hypothesizing, and, in many ways, simply hoping for the best, while maintaining good orchard care. Despite the cold settling around me here in Northern California, news of mango blooms beginning to blanket southern Mexico sets mango flowers on the top of my mind. Mango blossoms are a gorgeous signal of possibility, filling us with hope and promise—that’s what I love about the onset of the Mexican mango season. The way we must be hopeful. Less than 1% of mango blooms will actually form fruit, and while no one knows which ones will make it, the sheer abundance gives an illusion of endless potential: each flower might become a luscious, juicy mango. Seeing millions of these dazzling blooms burst from the trees like fireworks, how can we not feel hopeful?
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Decent sales, sincere loyalty & extreme #MangoJoy cultivated despite production hurdles This season was one of the most peculiar I’ve experienced, but ultimately, it turned out to be one of the best in terms of ROI. Despite numerous trials and tribulations, our customers and consumers stood by us, and together we delivered exceptional mango experiences at the retail level. Shoppers enjoyed decent prices, and we provided plenty of culinary and commodity education. We sold more overall, primarily because we diversified the variety of mangoes available. Although Mexican production was slightly down, the heightened excitement and consumer engagement made sales move faster than in previous seasons. The season is ending this week, but there is plenty to be pleased about in terms of how participants of our program cultivated #MangoJoy and reaped great rewards despite the climate related obstacles. I take more about the rewards of the season HERE. For now here’s a quick recap or a meander down the seasonal memory lane.
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Ataulfo price drop, Chiapas comes alive, EDJ2 opens, , more round fruit, blooming northern landscapes and opulent specialty mango flowers Weekends are sacred in our business. In contrast to Australians who may soon have the privilege of declining unreasonable calls and avoiding responses to calls or emails from their bosses outside “normal business hours,” most of us produce folks contend with a fair share of unreasonable demands seven days a week. We not only answer our phone calls from our bosses but also find ourselves in constant problem solving mode. Despite these constant demands, there is a certain peace to the weekend—the phone doesn’t ring as frequently, and the atmosphere tends to be quieter. This is why I take pleasure in dropping positive news Under the Mango Tree on Fridays. It is part of my quest to create more #MangoJoy in our lives, from orchard to table. I am going to make this short and sweet for us so we can get to the weekend sooner!
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