(UPDATED, July 24) By a narrow majority, fresh and frozen mango handlers and importers have voted in favor of an amendment to add frozen mangoes to the national research and promotion program.
Voting was open to first handlers who received 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangoes from producers and to importers who imported 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangoes or 200,000 or more pounds of frozen mangoes into the United States from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2017.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 52.5% of first handlers and importers of fresh and frozen mangoes were in favor of the amendment to the program. The amendment was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 21 and was effective March 25.
“The National Mango Board is pleased to learn that frozen mango will be included in the board’s research and promotion programs. Furthermore, we welcome this new era of the mango industry and strongly believe in the potential of mango becoming a fruit that is consumed daily by all U.S. consumers,” Manuel Michel, executive director at the NMB, said in the news release. “This is an opportunity that all board members and staff embrace and look forward to working together with the frozen mango industry. Combined, we will further accelerate the growth of mango consumption in the U.S.”
The National Mango Board’s operations are funded by an assessment of three-quarters of a cent per pound collected on fresh mangos produced in and imported into the U.S. The importers of frozen mangoes will be assessed one cent ($0.01) per pound on frozen mangoes.
Assessments of frozen mangoes begin on July 22, according to the USDA.
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