Tara A. Spears
My awareness of the problem started in January when my eyes weren’t itching and I didn’t need to take allergy medicine.
Normally, I have a strong reaction to the mango tree (Mangifera indica) buds and suffer for the three months it takes to develop its fruit. I first read a report in early March and by April it was officially an agricultural crisis: more than 70% of Nayarit mango trees did not bear fruit. That means no mango harvest, no lush, fresh mango fruit in the local stores and very little fruit available for juice, jams, export. It is an immediate, huge hit to the local economy.
Mango is much more than an export product; it is the direct livelihood of thousands of day laborers, transporters and small landowners. According to the government census, the collapse of mango production directly compromises the income of seven thousand mangueros in the state, who lose salary due to lack of mangos. The scarcity of the fruit is already being felt where incomes have decreased in the same proportion as the harvest. Nationally, nearly half a million workers are involved in mango production. The unprecedented drop in product has a detrimental affect on the local economy in the face of a harvest that was substantially reduced compared to previous yields of the region.
Shockingly, Nayarit, the third largest producer of mango, lost 154,000 tons of mangoes due to lack of flowering in the face of a warm winter, plummeting production and generating potential situation for possible outbreaks of pests in abandoned mango orchards in the region. Immediately, the Ataulfo mango cost went from $300 to $450 pesos per box, according to El Universal.
The mango industry in western Mexico is going through one of its most critical period in recent years. In Nayarit, a key state for domestic supply and exports, the harvest has dropped dramatically, leaving thousands of families in uncertainty. According to the most recent reports from the state-run agricultural sector, production has fallen to just 30% of what was recorded last year. Of the 220,000 tons obtained in the previous cycle, only about 66,000 tons are currently projected, which represents an unprecedented economic blow to the region.
Despite the magnitude of the losses, the technical community still does not have a definitive scientific opinion. Specialists continue to analyze samples from the orchards to determine the exact cause of this anomaly. However, the main hypothesis given by the experts points to atypical climatic factors that would have interrupted the natural cycle of the mango tree. For you, as a consumer or person interested in the sector, it is important to know that this situation will raise the prices of the fruit in the domestic market due to limited supply.
When you decide to treat yourself to the succulent taste of mango, take care to choose the best fruit at the market. Although not an absolute, according to Allrecipe, there are several things to look for when selecting mangos. Don’t let color cloud your judgment. Mangoes come in many colors (not to mention sizes and shapes), based on their particular variety, so the hue won’t be the most helpful indicator of a ripe fruit. You may hear that a rosy or red spot visible on the skin is a determiner, but it really isn’t.
Give the mango a gentle squeeze. It should give way slightly. If it’s firm and solid, like trying to squeeze a rock, it’s unripe. Conversely, if it gives too much, feels soggy in your hand, or has a bunch of overly soft spots, it’s gone too far.
Give the fruit a sniff. A ripe mango will have a fruity smell at its stem side, but if it’s beautifully ripe, the whole thing will be quite aromatic. Look to detect a hint of sweetness; if it’s piney, toss it back on the pile.
Caution for those that are sensitive to poison ivy: Don’t touch the sap if you come across it on the outside of the mango. It’ll likely give you a painful itchy rash like the ivy will, since mangoes are related to that plant.
The mango is one of the most commonly eaten fruits worldwide due to its sweetness and nutrictional benefits. Let’s hope that this ‘king of fruits’ can overcome the challenges of changing climate to survive.
