Jul 22, 2019
“In addition to a lot of international regions,
especially in Latin America, in the United States, mangoes are
grown in Florida, California, Hawaii, and in territories like the
U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.”
Eve Sapp (6:46 - 7:05)
Eve Sapp is a board member at the National Mango Board, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. She works to educate the U.S. consumer about the flavor, culture, and health benefits of mangos. Her family has an extensive agricultural background in the state of Florida, where Eve is currently a grower of domestic mangoes.
Mangoes are grown right here in America!
We tend to think of mango as an exotic fruit, one that is eaten in countries in Latin America or in South East Asia. While it's true that a lot of mangoes are grown in those regions, there are plenty of mango growers right here in America. In the United States, mangoes are grown in Florida, California, Hawaii, and in territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
In South Florida, there are the farmers' markets in Ft. Lauderdale. In California, one can buy locally grown mangoes from farmers in Santa Monica. However, for reasons that still remain a mystery, mango consumption in America lags far behind when compared to most other regions in the world where mangoes are available.
“If you don’t like one variety of mango, try another. There’s definitely a mango out there that will move your soul.”
- Lori Taylor (10:42 - 10:45)
On this National Mango Day, let's try and change that. In this article, we'll take a look at how many varieties of mangoes there are, and how to select the best mangoes at the market.
What are some of the main varieties of mangoes?
There are currently 1600 (yes, that many) varieties of mangoes worldwide. And new ones are being cultivated even now. In American stores, assuming you're one of the people that do buy mangoes, you're probably most familiar with ones like Kent, Tommy Atkins, Ataulfo, and Champagne mangoes. Some of the lesser known, but still delicious and nutritious varieties are Hayden, Madam Francis, and Palmer.
The thing to note is that these mangoes have entirely different flavor profiles and characteristics. So, if you've only tried mangoes once or twice, and you weren't crazy about them, there are more than 1500 other varieties in the world for you to try. And we'd be willing to bet that one of them will move your soul.
What's the best way to select a mango when you're at the store?
While the abundance of mango varieties makes it more likely you'll find one that you love, it also makes it confusing when it comes to picking one at the grocery store. Should you select the green ones? Or is it best to go with the reddish ones? How do you know if they are ripe?
The answer is that you should follow a similar process as you would when you’re buying peaches or avocados. The fruit should have a bit of softness to indicate ripeness. Contrary to popular belief, color is not the right way to judge if the mango is ready to eat. We tend to associate redness with ripeness. But mangoes get red due to sun exposure. A ripe mango could be green, yellow, or red.
If you’re looking for ways to prep mangoes to serve your family, be sure to check out the National Mango Board’s YouTube channel for ideas and inspiration.
“We think of mangoes as being an exotic fruit. And it is, in fact, grown in many places with what we might consider as colorful cultures. But the fruit is available in grocery stores and markets all around us, and we can bring that brightness and culture to our own homes.” - Eve Sapp (20:29 - 21:02)
Mango is really one of the fruits that is a unifying force around the world. Globally, it ranks number one in consumption. If you visit markets around the world, you’ll see mangoes everywhere. People are picking them, bargaining over their prices, and eating them.
While we may consider mangoes to be an exotic fruit, they are readily available in stores and markets around us. They can immediately add vibrancy to your recipes, not to mention they are incredibly nutritious.
This National Mango Day, get out there and fill up your shopping basket with a few different varieties of mangoes!
How to get involved
- Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!
- Reach out to us - we’d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.
- Check out the National Mango Board’s website, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
- For ideas and inspirations on how to prep and serve mangoes, check out The Mango Board’s YouTube channel.
- Connect with Eve on LinkedIn and stay up-to-date on her upcoming book about how mangoes exemplify the concept of food as culture.
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