The combination of lower mango crops and subsequent higher prices has impacted the consumption of mangos, a fruit that has generally seen a good year quality-wise. "Customers that used to sell say 2,000 cases now sell 1000 cases," says Giorgio Ceciarelli of GC Imports. "Prices have a lot to do with consumption going down. I hope that with the spring and the summer, that consumption goes higher."
Throughout the winter, the supply of mangoes has been low. "Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, the whole winter they were very high priced on low production–probably only 30-40 percent of the yields of other years," says Ceciarelli, adding that production overseas has largely finished now though there are some Tommy Atkins mangos still arriving from Brazil and some Kents from Peru.
Mexican mango production
Mexico also started its harvest of Ataulfo mangoes in December and January and it too had lower crops and high prices. "The national market in Mexico and the strong Peso drove prices very high because there was a very low yield. Prices have been dropping as volume increases though those prices are still higher than other years," says Ceciarelli. Production is now going in Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacan and Guerrero though Ceciarelli adds that it will be a low production year overall for the country.
However economic factors may also be at play in mango movement. "People don't buy as much as they used to in general," Ceciarelli says, adding that strong grocery pricing is weighing heavily on consumers' minds.
For more information:
Giorgio Ceciarelli
GC Imports
Tel: +1 (416) 649-5775
[email protected]
www.gcimports.ca