2023-05-16 13:50:00
Production of Florida mangoes will start up in the next month or so, with the season continuing through August. “It’s a good crop. Florida is subtropical, so mangoes, like lychees and other tropical fruits, depend on the amount of rain, heat, cold, etc.,” says Nick Bernal of Seasons Farm Fresh, Inc. “However, we have good volume after last year when the crop was low.” The high harvest season will be the second half of June and the first half of July.
Nick Bernal and his brother Gabe’s company is introducing a new Florida mango program this year called Miami Mango, with which they hope to tap into the nostalgia of mango growing in the state where they both grew up. “Florida is the birthplace of many commercial mango varieties, such as Tommy Atkins, Keitt, and Haden, all of which are grown here in South Florida,” Bernal says.
Apart from being a mango grown in the country, what, according to Bernal, also distinguishes these mangoes is the fact that they are not treated with hot water or irradiated, like other mangoes that arrive in the country. “We can literally harvest the product from the tree when it’s ripe, pack it, and ship it to the customer to give them the authentic mango experience we grew up with,” he says.
Producer network
The grower and shipper has a cooperative of small growers that they work with to supply Florida’s volume of mangoes, and is certified conventional, organic, Primus GFS, and more. “We have obtained these certifications at the request of retailers who understand the flavor and value of a tree-ripened mango,” says Bernal.
Although Seasons Farm Fresh has been shipping mangoes from Florida for its twelve years of existence as part of a larger mango program that sources the fruit from nine countries, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Peru and Colombia, among others, it is trying to build a national brand under the Miami Mango name. “In the last twenty years, it has been difficult for Florida mango growers to compete, because Mexico produces a lot of volume at a very cheap price. However, we can compete on quality,” he says. Although he has been shipping mangoes from Florida to retailers Canadians, hopes to attract more retailers Americans this year.
Varietal awareness in the mango
He also believes that the time is right, given the strengthening demand seen in mango consumption. “I’ve really seen it increase, especially in some high-end mangoes. The same thing that’s happening now with mangoes is happening with grapes, with all the varietal development,” Bernal says.
In the market, although most of the mangoes come from Mexico and are red, some mangoes like the Colombian sell for $20-25/box compared to normal mangoes, which can sell for $4-6/box when the market is flooded. He also adds that the prices for the Miami Mango program will be slightly higher, between $7 and $9.
Now, to help build the brand, Bernal encourages retailers to use tastings to raise awareness among consumers. “If you take a tree-ripened mango to stores and let it ripen a bit more before offering it, you don’t need to do anything else. The mango will sell itself,” she says.
For more information:
Nick Bernal
Seasons Farm Fresh, Inc.
Tel.: +1 (305) 608-9020
nick@seasonsfarmfresh.com
https://seasonsfarmfresh.com/
Publication date:
1684246172
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