Mango Crop Plummets

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 season. That meant no mango harvest, no lush, fresh mango fruit in the local stores, and very little fruit available for juice, jams, or export — 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 compromised the income of seven thousand mangueros in the state, who lost salary due to the lack of mangos. The scarcity of the fruit was felt where incomes decreased in the same proportion as the harvest. Nationally, nearly half a million workers are involved in mango production. The unprecedented drop in product had a detrimental effect 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 situations for possible outbreaks of pests in abandoned mango orchards in the region. Almost overnight, the Ataulfo mango cost went from $300 to $450 pesos per box, according to El Universal.

The mango industry in western Mexico went through one of its most critical periods in recent years. In Nayarit, a key state for domestic supply and exports, the harvest dropped dramatically, leaving thousands of families in uncertainty. According to reports from the state-run agricultural sector at the time, production fell to just 30% of what was recorded the previous year. Of the 220,000 tons obtained in the previous cycle, only about 66,000 tons were projected for that season, representing an unprecedented economic blow to the region.

Despite the magnitude of the losses, the technical community did not have a definitive scientific opinion. Specialists analyzed samples from the orchards to try to determine the exact cause of the anomaly. However, the main hypothesis given by experts pointed to atypical climatic factors that interrupted the natural cycle of the mango tree. For consumers, the shortfall meant higher prices for the fruit in the domestic market due to the 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 who 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 poison 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 nutritional benefits. Let’s hope that this ‘king of fruits’ can overcome the challenges of a changing climate to keep thriving in Nayarit for years to come.