OXNARD, CA - It’s a tight situation in the mango market as growers wait for the right time to harvest. But while retailers may want to hold off on promotions for the time being, Freska Produce’s Gary Clevenger tells me that hope is on the horizon for the end of April.
“We had a late flowering this season, with fruit having been delayed by about thirty days and creating a gap in the market,” Gary tells me, adding that it has been a perfect storm of transitions ending early in Peru and starting late in Mexico that has created a significant shortage for the past few weeks.
“Right now it’s just about waiting for those mangos that are already on the trees to mature, which should be happening in a couple of weeks,” Gary tells me, adding that, for the sake of both quality and volume, it’s best retailers hold off on promoting until then.
It’s a gap that is rare in the mango business, Gary explains, saying, “It's been quite a few years that I can remember since a situation like this has occurred. Prices are anywhere from $12 to $16 a box, I haven’t seen it like this in my career. But it will get better, we just need to let the fruit mature before picking.”
With what is currently on the trees and the period of time it will take to ensure quality fruit, Freska currently suggestions promotions be slated more towards the middle to end of April - just in time for those summer recipes and Cinco de Mayo parties.
“Promotions should be able to start mid-April and run through the rest of the summer,” Gary says, adding that it’s best to give time for inventory to stock up once the mangos do start to roll in.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the season as more updates become available, so stay tuned.
