National Mango Board

National Mango Board’s Director Reflects on 20 Years of Industry Growth

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:56:46 GMT

The National Mango Board celebrated its 20-year anniversary during the recent International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show in October.

Over those two decades, mango demand by U.S. consumers has grown considerably and the complex mango supply chain has united, according to NMB Executive Director Ramón Ojeda. But those successes haven’t come by waving magic wands, he adds.

“It’s not an easy task, because you got to get people together under one vision and then row in one direction,” Ojeda tells The Packer, reflecting on NMB’s history. “That’s what these folks did 20 years ago. It’s been 20 years of hard work and dedication of over 90 board members along the way who have lent their time and talents to get us to where we are.”

Mangoes by the Numbers

According to USDA records, 20 years ago, just under 2 pounds of mango was available per person in the U.S. For context, that’s roughly where papaya is today .

“If you look 20 years ago, we weren’t even on the radar,” Ojeda says. “For example, today we ranked No. 10 in volume velocity in retailers nationwide. Twenty years ago, we weren’t even in the top 25.”

Mangoes — if they were considered at all by U.S. consumers — were seen as an exotic treat only available for a few weeks in summer, he says. Getting consumer attention was one of the biggest challenge in those early years, he adds.

Things are different now.

According to the NMB, there were 3.5 pounds of mango available per person in the U.S. in 2024, equating to 130 million boxes of mangoes delivered to the U.S. annually, valued at $929 million in 2024. And mangoes are available year-round.

According to the USDA , the first half of 2025 saw a 42% increase in fresh mango imports compared with the same time in 2024. This increase came in large part from record-setting import volumes from Peru during the first three months of 2025.

Ojeda adds that the board’s recent surveys show that roughly one in four U.S. households have a mango in the pantry today.

“Imagine that; after 20 years, one in four,” he says. “Imagine the opportunity of the three other households.”

Education Then, Now, Into the Future

Tapping into that opportunity will take continued dedication to education, the perennial challenge that the NMB has tackled throughout its tenure.

Education efforts over the years have included a lot of promotion to capture consumer attention. According to the NMB, those efforts have been quite successful, showing a $16 return to the industry for every $1 spent over the past 10 years. Direct consumer education has focused on how to select, handle and use mangoes, these being areas that even interested newcomers to the fruit are often uncertain about .

But it’s not just the need to educate consumers, Ojeda adds. The entire supply chain has important roles to play in driving mango demand by delivering good mango-eating experiences to consumers.

Ojeda notes that there is a lot that can go wrong along the mango’s complex supply chain, which involves numerous producers across several different countries, not to mention distributors and retailers across the country. Anything from picking a mango at the wrong time down to a retailer putting unripe mangoes in cold storage can result in a bad eating experience for the consumer.

Educating the supply chain on everyone’s critical role in supporting consumer demand was one of the biggest barriers the NMB had to break “back in the day,” Ojeda says. Looking forward, however, he describes the need for a holistic focus on growing the industry and educating consumers on how mangoes can fit into their lives and values.

“Our biggest challenge is to grow a great, constant supply of good quality mangoes while at the same time educate consumers in all the good quality properties of mango regarding versatility and nutritional values and great flavor,” he says.

Honor to the Mango and Its Pioneers

Ojeda calls the mango an “amazing, super delicious, ultra nutritious fruit” and invites U.S. consumers who have never tried it to pick one up next time they go to the grocery store.

“It is called the king of fruits around the world,” he points out. “Along with bananas, it’s one of the most popular fruits in pretty much all of the rest of the world, but it’s not well known here in the U.S.”

That is why the NMB has been so critical to the mango industry, he adds. He calls himself just the messenger as the executive director who, together with his team, follow the vision of the NMB’s board members over the years.

“The pioneers — if I may call them that — who got together to put the work in to get the National Mango Board going and every board member between 2005 and now — all 90 of them — deserve our appreciation and recognition just because of the work they do,” Ojeda says.

The success that the NMB and the U.S. mango industry has seen over the past 20 years “takes hard work and dedication of so many people,” he adds. “We’re so glad that we are a part of it.”

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Keep Calm and Record on for Mango FSMA 204 Compliance

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:33:05 GMT

Traceability rules might be daunting, but they don’t have to be. So went the advice of one food safety expert to the mango industry

On Sept. 24, Sergio Nieto-Montenegro of Food Safety Consulting and Training Solutions, LLC, laid out the ABCs of abiding by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Traceability Rule, known as FSMA 204 , for the mango industry.

His main message was to not panic over the rule. Most members of the mango supply chain are already doing most, if not all, of the new rule’s requirements, he said. It’s just a matter of getting a plan together.

“Sometimes we get scared and feel that we have to fulfill every single requirement in the standard,” he acknowledged to his audience. Attendees came from at least a half dozen mango-growing countries and represented all points along the mango supply chain.

But then he listed out information mango growers have to supply according to the rule — details such as mango variety, date of harvest, quantity of harvest, orchard and field name and location, and who the mangoes go to after harvest — and asked: “all of this information, this is something you are already collecting, yes?”

The participants overwhelmingly answered yes.

“But then we hear ‘FSMA regulations’ and we panic,” Montenegro continued. “But it’s just about how we organize the information.”

The ABCs of FSMA 204 for mangoes

Montenegro overviewed the numerous acronyms of the FSMA 204 for the mango industry, focusing mostly on CTEs — critical tracking events. According to the rule, fresh produce CTEs are harvesting, cooling before initial packing, initial packing, shipping, receiving, and transformation (including repacking) of a fresh produce item.

Not everyone within the fresh mango supply chain will deal with all possible CTEs however, Montenegro explained. For example, the chilling CTE that might apply to other fresh produce doesn’t usually apply to the fresh mango supply chain.

However, given the complexity of the mango supply chain — with mangoes often coming from small suppliers in various countries, being repacked and changing hands many times via transportation middlemen and brokers — it can come with many, sometimes repeated, steps.

Repackaging, which counts as a transformation under FSMA 204, is one of those points of potential complexity for mangoes. They will receive a TLC, traceability lot code, upon initial packing. But each time the mangoes are repackaged, they are effectively a new product, thereby requiring a new TLC.

Montenegro gave the example of lots of mangoes that are initially processed and given a TLC, that are then sent to another warehouse that repacks them into size-specific pallets according to client desires. Those pallets of large mangoes from mixed original lots are new products requiring new TLCs.

He also offered an example of the many hands mangoes can pass through as an area of complexity for the industry.

“Imagine that I have mangoes coming from Michoacán,” he said. “They were packed in Michoacán and then went to McAllen. Then the person in McAllen sent them to a broker in Dallas. And then the broker in Dallas sends them to a broker in Minneapolis.”

Those brokers’ activities would represent both receiving and shipping CTEs, and each would be required to keep track of the relevant receiving and shipping KDEs (key data elements) such as product description, location information of where the mangoes had just been and where they will be going next, dates and so on.

“So you will have a bit more information here,” Montenegro said.

Don’t reinvent the record-keeping wheel

Compliance with the FSMA 204 comes down to organizing your (probably already existing) information, Montenegro advised his mango industry listeners. He noted the record-keeping requirements will vary depending on where a person or company falls in the supply chain.

Regardless, he recommended industry members not try to reinvent the wheel in preparation to comply with the rule, which takes effect July 20, 2028 . Instead, he recommended people start by taking stock of what records they already collect and compare it to the record-keeping needs of the new rule.

“Maybe, you already have everything, or maybe you’re only missing two little details,” he said. “Even if you’re missing two details, that doesn’t mean you have to transform your whole [record-keeping] system. You just need to make those two additions.”

He added that the process of adding to an existing record-keeping system doesn’t need to be complicated. He showed participants example record documents that fit different links in the mango supply chain offered by the National Mango Board.

“At the National Mango Board, we have plenty of tools at your service to help you create a plan in compliance with this rule,” Montenegro said.

Most Consumers Need Help Mastering Mango Ripeness

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:57:11 GMT

Do you know how to pick a ripe mango? What about storing it before putting it out on the produce floor?

If you don’t know, you’re not alone.

Every year The Packer conducts its Fresh Trends survey of U.S. consumers to gather insights on shopping habits and fresh produce preferences. Fresh Trends 2025 asked consumers two questions about picking ripe fruit:

Do you feel comfortable selecting a ripe [fruit] for immediate consumption?
Do you know how to ripen [fruit] once you get them home?

For some beloved standbys, like bananas, most survey respondents said they were comfortable picking ready-to-eat fruit (72%) and knew how to ripen unripe fruit at home (63%). Other fruit were a bit of a mystery to respondents.

Take mangoes, for example. Only a third of Fresh Trends 2025 respondents said they were comfortable selecting a ripe, ready-to-eat mango. When it came to ripening an unripe mango at home, only a quarter of respondents reported knowing how.

“It’s nice to see that, on some level, we have made a difference,” said Lavanya Setia, director of marketing for the National Mango Board. “A few years ago, the number of people who would say they knew how to pick a mango was much lower.”

Setia also said the results show a lot of opportunity since there are still many consumers who don’t know how to select a mango or cut it.

Picking a ripe mango

Consumers’ lack of certainty on mango ripeness isn’t too surprising.

“Mangoes are still an emerging fruit; around 2% of produce volume, on aggregate,” said Angie Thomas, retail account consultant for the National Mango Board. “So, most — again, speaking in aggregate — shoppers are only somewhat familiar with mangoes.”

To complicate the situation, there are a lot of varieties of mangoes available ,and they all ripen differently, Setia adds.

“Some of them get red when they are ripe, some of them get a little wrinkly, some of them don’t change color at all,” she said. “So, how do you have that one message that tells people it’s ripe?”

Despite the difficulty in offering one message, the National Mango Board recommends consumers gently press the mango, much like they would an avocado or a peach, to gauge its ripeness.

When it comes to ripening a mango at home, Setia says that mangoes work like many other fruits; they can be left on the counter to ripen at room temperature. The ripening process can be sped up by placing the mango in a brown bag. Once ripe, whole mangoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.

“If it becomes common knowledge, then they wouldn’t have so much hesitation around buying an unripe mango because they know how to get it ready to eat at home,” she said.

Demographic differences

Fresh Trends 2025 shows some interesting demographic trends relative to mango ripeness knowledge. For example, more respondents who had depending children reported being comfortable selecting a ripe, ready-to-eat mango (44%) compared with those without children (26%).

“I think parents are always trying to get creative with getting kids something nutritious that the kids will enjoy as well,” Setia said. “I have a 5-year-old, and I know how quickly they reach a point where they are bored with what they are eating and they want something new, so you try to experiment.

Similarly, more respondents under the age of 50 reported being comfortable picking a ripe, ready-to-eat mango (38% for those aged 18-29 and 30-39 and 37% of those aged 40-49) compared with older respondents (31% of those aged 50-59 and 22% of those 60 years or older).

Setia credits the age differences in ripeness confidence to two different factors: accessibility and exposure.

“The supply chain has gotten better, so remote parts of the country where you wouldn’t get something like a mango unless there was enough demand now have mangoes,” she said. “The other thing is greater exposure to international cuisines through travel and social media. So, they’re seeing it on TikTok, and if they see a recipe, they will try it out. There’s more openness and more adaptability in that generation.”

Mango education efforts

The National Mango Board has a number of educational efforts underway on how to select ripe mangoes, cutting mangoes and recipes available on its website. But it goes far beyond that.

“We have an array of information available — from digital, social to [point of sale] — and we’re exploring bags that can be offered at the retail level to help with ripening,” Thomas said. “This is an everyday effort, as well as working one-on-one with customers to educate and disseminate and to pulse into all campaigns.”

Setia also said the group has a two-pronged approach to mango education: one side being consumer focused and the other being retailer-focused. She said this latter effort focuses on getting retailers armed with the necessary information to provide good product to customers, answering questions like: “How do you store a mango?” “When is the best time to get a mango out on the shop floor?” “How should the fresh cut department be preparing the mangoes?” and so on.

“So we’re trying to educate both sides so that there is demand and that demand is being met with a high quality product,” she said.

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National Mango Board, Disney, Fandango team up to promote mangoes

Wed, 07 May 2025 22:16:04 GMT

To celebrate the live-action release of “Lilo & Stitch,” the National Mango Board, Disney and Fandango have collaborated to give mango consumers a chance to win one of 1,500 Fandango Promotional Codes toward the purchase of two “Lilo & Stitch” movie tickets (up to $15 per ticket) .

The National Mango Board said “Lilo & Stitch,” which is set in Hawaii, is the perfect backdrop for the collaboration. Hawaii is home to more than 500 mango varieties, which highlights the unique and diverse flavors of mangoes.

One grand prize individual will have the chance to win $4,000 toward a tropical vacation.

The National Mango Board said mangoes, with their bright and joyful essence, complement the “‘ohana” or family theme of the film.

“Families go grocery shopping together, so there’s no better tie-in than mangoes to create the perfect ʻOhana vibe, also with an opportunity to win big,” Ramón Ojeda, executive director at the National Mango Board, said in a news release. “This collaboration allows us to highlight the unique connection between fresh mangoes and the Hawaiian Islands, while celebrating the spirit of ‘ʻOhana’ and the pure ‘hau’oli’ that both NMB and this beloved Disney story represent.”

The National Mango Board said the comprehensive campaign will feature content across paid and organic social media, showcasing mango recipes and the playful spirit of the “Lilo & Stitch” movie. A dedicated online landing page will feature exclusive recipes, including fresh mango creations and campaign details.

The board also plans targeted public relations outreach to media and influencers to generate excitement and awareness. Other promotions include retail activations, including bin headers, iron man posters and shelf posters, to drive consumer engagement in-store.

How the National Mango Board aims to 'inspire' consumers

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:19:09 GMT

“The mission of the National Mango Board is to inspire everyone to taste the joy of fresh mangoes in their everyday lives,” said Lavanya Setia, the board’s director of marketing.

That can be accomplished through educating consumers about mango nutrition, flavor and culture, she said.

“With peak mango season kicking off, a lot is going on with the National Mango Board to be excited about,” Setia said.

The Orlando, Fla.-based board is planning a summer promotion that addresses the joys of summer with key activations, both in-store and digitally, along with key partnerships and gamification on the board’s website — mango.org — for National Mango Day, July 22.

Later, the board will kick off a back-to-school push that will emphasize nutrition, she said.

“For retailers gearing up for a busy mango season, we have evergreen point-of-sale [material] that showcases how to cut and a ripeness meter for how to pick,” Setia said.

The board soon will introduce nutrition-based content as well.

The board’s retail resources help align seasonal activities with mango recipes, which helps with the application of use ideas for consumers, she said.

National Mango Board partners with Ole Miss

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:44:02 GMT

The National Mango Board says it will partner with the University of Mississippi athletics, sponsoring all Ole Miss football and basketball home games for the 2024-25 season.

The National Mango Board says the partnership is a major milestone for the organization as it promotes the health benefits of mango. The organization plans activities, promotions and opportunities for fans to sample the tropical fruit at select home football and basketball games, according to a news release.

Each home game will feature a unique mango-themed experience as the National Mango Board aims to increase awareness about the versatility and health benefits of mango among students, athletes and fans.

“We are looking forward to kicking off our partnership with Ole Miss Athletics, extending our support to all football and basketball home games for the 2024-2025 season,” Dan Spellman, director of marketing for the National Mango Board, said in the release. “This collaboration allows us to celebrate the joy of mango with an even larger audience. We look forward to engaging with the Ole Miss community, enhancing their game day experiences with our refreshing fruit.”

National Mango Board, Florida State University renew partnership

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:12:47 GMT

The National Mango Board says it has renewed its marketing partnership with Florida State University Athletics, building on the first year of collaboration to bring fresh mangoes to athletes and fans.

The National Mango Board’s “Joy Ride” food truck is set to kick off the football season and bring fresh mango treats, photo opportunities and interactive activities during Florida State’s home opener on Sept. 2 against Boston College.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to extend our partnership with Florida State University Athletics,” Dan Spellman, director of marketing for the National Mango Board, said in a news release. “The Seminoles’ electrifying game-day atmosphere is the ideal setting to share the delicious taste of fresh mangoes, as well as the fruit’s versatility and nutritional power packed into every bite.”

As part of this partnership, the National Mango Board will return to Langford Green and Doak Campbell Stadium for another season of mango-themed promotions, expanding its presence at FSU football, baseball and softball games.

The National Mango Board’s presence will continue with the Sept. 21 game against the University of California, Berkeley, the Oct. 5 game against Clemson and will bring a fun twist on collegiate sports through mango treats, giveaways and interactive experiences, according to the release.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the National Mango Board to promote nutritional choices and delicious flavors to our fans,” said Bill Houston, general manager of Florida State Global Partnerships. “At Florida State, we are always striving to improve the game-day experience for our fans, and our continued partnership with the National Mango Board is an exciting way to do that.”

Mango industry gunning for continued growth

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:08:56 GMT

The Packer’s Tom Karst on May 15 with Manuel Michel, executive director of the National Mango Board about the group’s latest initiative to honor “ Retail Super Fruit Super Heroes ” and other mango industry issues.

Michel said the effect of COVID-19 on the mango industry was felt immediately with panic buying then consumer adjustments in their shopping trips that lowered demand.

“We had Cinco de Mayo coming up and we were able to generate additional demand and get back into some of the retail stores,” he said. “Going into Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day, we did see an increase in demand and right now over the last couple of weeks, demand has maintained about the same level.”

Michel said one long-term goal for the mango to ascend the rankings of America’s most popular fruits. Right now, mangoes are ranked No. 12/13 of most-consumed fruits.

“We think that we can get to that top 10 spot here in the next five years, and so that’s a goal that all of us are working together to try to reach,” he said.

With the absence of face-to-face meetings and trade shows, Michel said the mango board is ramping up video outreach to buyers.

The Packer’s Mango industry coverage

The Packer’s National Mango Board coverage

The Packer’s COVID-19 updates

National Mango Board seeks ‘Retail Super Fruit Super Heroes’

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:38:00 GMT

The National Mango Board will be awarding gift cards to the first 100 people nominated as “Retail Super Fruit Super Heroes.”

The organization is asking produce retail leaders to submit the names of team members “who have gone above and beyond the normal expectations” in their work as the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded.

“To say the least, these have been trying times,” Tammy Wiard, retail marketing manager for NMB, said in a news release. “As we work to determine the new normal, the National Mango Board wants to recognize the extraordinary efforts that retailers have made to keep the food chain intact, and more specifically front-line retail produce employees.

“We want to thank our retail partners for their continued efforts,” Wiard said. “The mango industry continues to thrive, even during these uncertain times. We look forward to great mango volume during the summer months and consistent demand driven by consumers’ heightened focus on health and nutrition.”

Boards support foodservice with recipes, training and more

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:42:12 GMT

Commodity boards, commissions and councils have found that partnering with foodservice operations is an effective way to move more of their product.

Here’s what some of those organizations have planned for the coming months.

California Avocado Commission

The California Avocado Commission has been involved with a number of foodservice promotions this summer, some of which still are underway, said Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing.

The commission was working on three additional promotions for later in the season that had not been finalized as of mid-July.

Current promotions include:

Erik’s DeliCafe, through Aug. 30: Promotes the use of fresh California avocados on the menu in sandwiches and salads.
Flame Broiler, through Aug. 12: The promotion is for the add-on or upsell with California avocados to any bowl during peak season.
Rubio’s, through Aug. 18: Promotes the use of fresh California avocados on the menu during peak season.
Super Duper, through Aug. 10: Promotes fresh California avocados on the menu for upsell/add-ons, which are supported with social media, e-mail blast and logo on the website.

Five new California Avocado Commission foodservice promotional partners this season were Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill, Norm’s, Erik’s DeliCafe, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches and Mixt Restaurant.

California Table Grape Commission

In 2020, the California Table Grape Commission is encouraging the use of fresh table grapes in foodservice operations nationwide through a combination of advertising, education, direct outreach to culinary professionals and the foodservice media, said Courtney Romano, the commission’s foodservice consultant.

Print ads are running in Flavor & the Menu magazine to remind chefs of the many ways that grapes can work on a menu, she said.

A new Chef’s Guide now is available as a visual resource guide for chef innovation with grapes, with an emphasis on grape flavor pairings and creative concepts that show how well California grapes work across a menu.

The natural fit of grapes for takeout and delivery also is highlighted.

Outreach to chefs is ongoing, and chef-created recipes are featured in foodservice editorial outlets.

“Fresh grapes offer vibrant color; a crisp, juicy texture; and a balance of sweet and acid that make grapes compatible with a variety of ingredients and dishes,” Romano said.

“Grapes are well-suited to off-premise dining as they hold very well as an ingredient in a dish, and make an easy, fresh side item to accompany any type of cuisine.”

Mushroom Council

The Blend continues to be the Mushrooms Council’s primary promotional focus, and over the past year the council has expanded its promotional footprint, marketing to new audiences in new places and earning increased blend adoption and sales, said spokesman Eric Davis.

At foodservice, this included collaborating with partners during the pandemic to provide meals for front line workers and first responders, he said.

“Prior to the crisis reaching the U.S., our industry was riding tremendous momentum,” Davis said.

Monthly shipping reports showed a run of record highs in late 2019, driven in part by high demand in the foodservice channel, particularly with adoption of The Blend.

As foodservice began shutting down and/or switching to carry out/delivery, the council began to collaborate with many of its foodservice partners to provide support to those impacted the most by the crisis.

The Mushroom Council worked with a variety of its foodservice partners – including manufacturers, independents, chains, chef associations and menu developers – to help feed personnel at hospitals, police departments,

EMT units, senior centers and crisis centers, he said.

“We also hear from foodservice that blended burgers are ideal for carry out and delivery thanks to mushrooms’ ability to retain flavor and moisture while burgers are in transit,” Davis said.

National Mango Board

The National Mango Board continues to move mangoes forward in the foodservice industry, said Angela Serna, marketing manager.

“Amid the world crisis, we have focused on mango innovation and flavor as a back-to-basics model for restaurant chefs and operators,” she said.

Over the next few months, the board will focus on recipe development and innovation

“We will continue to leverage industry trends and industry professionals for this,” Serna said. “Expect to see similar collaborations as our recent partnership with Kitchen Collaborative, where we sponsored chef recipes in partnership with a trade magazine.”

The board also will continue to push and offer resources to increase mango quality and education through the supply chain, she said.

“We know that for operators consistency is key, and we will work with industry partners to help bridge those challenges.”

The board will continue to work with operators for innovation and ideas that will work now or in the future as businesses safely reopen, she added.

“We know that going back to basics but also differentiating dishes will be important,” Serna said. “Therefore, our continued work with chefs and mixologist will play a key role in innovation and inspiration for the industry.”

National Watermelon Promotion Board

After five years of cultivating relationships throughout the foodservice industry, the National Watermelon Promotion Board is not waiting to see what happens as restaurants pivot to a new normal but continue to offer watermelon as a solution on menus, said Megan McKenna, senior director of marketing and foodservice.

“As outreach continues to chains offering education, menu ideation and promotional support, there was a need to address the abundant operational shift of increased takeaway and delivery,” she said.

Starting with research, a new handout highlights watermelon’s growth on menus as well as consumers’ thoughts on watermelon on the menu.

Second, operators will find information on handling the product.

Lastly, watermelon recipes and recipe images will inspire operators to think about using watermelon in takeaway and delivery-friendly menu items, McKenna said.

The new tool is being used in direct outreach to chains across the country and will be highlighted through digital advertising focused on regional and national chains.

“Response has been positive for continued watermelon ideation and promotions moving into the summer months,” she said.

Mangoes continue to trend upward

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:42:12 GMT

Mangoes already are an extremely popular item in restaurants, but industry members heard from some subject matter experts about how to boost the fruit’s acceptance even more during a web seminar sponsored by the National Mango Board on June 30.

Mangoes currently show up on 40% of restaurant menus across the U.S., said Mike Kostyo, resident trendologist and senior managing editor of the marketing intelligence team at Datassential, the Chicago-based market research firm.

That 40% figure “is really strong menu penetration,” he said.

In the past year alone, the growth rate was 6%.

The highest menu penetration is at full-service establishments, where almost half the restaurants feature mangoes on their menus.

“This is a really strong indicator, because a lot of trends tend to start in those full-service restaurants, then they’ll move over into the limited-service restaurants,” he said.

“There’s a real opportunity here for some of those limited service restaurants — QSRs and fast-casual — to increase their mango penetration.”

Popularity of mangoes does not vary much by region.

Menu penetration is 44% in the West and Northeast and 40% in the Midwest and South.

A wide range of restaurants feature mangoes on their menus, including 19.5% of American restaurants, 14.4% of Mexican eateries and 8.5% of Indian dining establishments.

And they’re very versatile.

“You’re not just seeing them on the breakfast or dessert menus, which is sometimes the case for fruit,” Kostyo said.

Mangoes are used in many applications, but the most common is blended drinks, which is a great place to be, he said.

“This is a category that is growing,” he said. “Cafes and coffee shops across the country continue to open.”

Mangoes have proven to be a consumer favorite.

Kostyo said 79% of consumers have tried them, and of that number, 80% love or like them.

He cited some examples of “mangoes in action” — how they’re used at some popular locations.

The strawberry and mango salad at On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina earned an 80 percentile purchase, meaning that the offering scored higher than 80% of the items tested in the data base.

“It’s high scoring and a savory option,” he said. “It speaks to the real versatility of mangoes.”

The tropical chicken taco with mango papaya salsa from Yard House also scored an 80% purchase intent.

Kostyo seemed especially impressed with a dessert option — triple mango ice cream from Baskin-Robbins.

“Not only does this score very highly for purchase intent — better than 75% of all the other options we tested — but this scored really, really high (88%) for uniqueness,” he said.

“That’s kind of the Holy Grail for an item,” Kostyo said. “If you can combine high purchase intent with high uniqueness, it means it’s something consumers really want to try, but also something they can only get from your operation.”

Mango category movement isn’t slowing down.

Mangoes beat 96% of the ingredients and flavors in the database in terms of growth, Kostyo said.

He expects their popularity to grow another 10% over the next four years.

Chef Jason Hernandez, consultant at Blade & Tine Culinary Consulting, demonstrated for webinar viewers a number of ways to use mangoes, such as mango bread, fresh mango puree, mango glaze and mango smoothies and showed how different stages of ripeness can be appropriate for different dishes.

Tim Beerup, president of Beerup Inc., a produce supply chain consultant, wrapped up the presentation by focusing on the need to offer quality mangoes.

“Our industry needs to create a new mango paradigm,” he said. “We need to be focused on creating a best in fresh mango advantage for the foodservice industry.”

He said he believes mangoes are on the same trajectory as avocados when it comes to achieving consumer acceptance.

“We’re already in people’s hearts and minds,” he said, “What we need to do is elevate the mango and present it in its best light.”

That can be accomplished by ensuring customers consistent, high-quality, flavorful mangoes, Beerup said.

He called for careful attention to ripening programs, product sourcing and varietal selection to ensure consistent flavor and quality.

“We need a guaranteed good product showing up at a foodservice distributor and operator,” he said.

“We need to create sourcing and supply chain integrity that will help get us there.”

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National Mango Board tackles topics at United Fresh LIVE!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:30 GMT

The National Mango Board has a full schedule of activities for its virtual booth at the United Fresh LIVE! Expo June 15-18.

The board’s booth (link is live on June 15) will feature live Mango Think-Tank Sessions during the expo hours, 1-3 p.m. Eastern, June 15-18.

The schedule, according to a National Mango Board news release, features:

Mango on the Menu: Jason Hernandez will present recipes and discuss mango versatility;
Mango’s Nutrition Story: Allison Beadle will have a presentation and Q&A on nutrition/wellness;
Making Fresh Happen on the Menu: Hernandez will talk about mango quality specs and fruit quality and consistency;
Building Distributor Sales of Fresh Mango: Tim Beerup talk about mango supply chain and how the fruit grows the fresh produce category;
Fresh Mango Processors — Achieving a Cut Above: Dennis Kihlstadius gives a presentation on ripening; and
Let’s Do the Numbers — Research Points to Growing Fresh Mango Sales: Susan Hughes talks about growth of imports and menu research.

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Mango board sponsors kitchen collaborative initiative

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:16:47 GMT

The National Mango Board is a sponsor of Kitchen Collaborative, a recipe development initiative in which chefs partner with sponsors to create recipes.

“Kitchen Collaborative is a nod to the resilience and camaraderie that the foodservice industry shows us time and time again,” Angela Serna, marketing manager at the mango board, said in a news release. “The collaboration and willingness of the chefs to participate in this initiative has been astounding and inspiring.”

Other sponsors include the Idaho Potato Commission and California Avocado Commission . Kitchen Collaborative was formed by Summit F&B and Flavor & The Menu.

Five chefs partnered with the board to create recipes, playing on comfort-style foods and the use of global cuisines.

Mangoes have increased 16% on menus in the past four years and are projected to grow another 10% in the next four years, according to the release.

Mango interest is expected to grow as global cuisines become more popular and the National Mango Board promotes menu development and education investment.

“We continue to see tremendous growth of the mango category in the foodservice sector and look forward to new innovative and flavorful preparations of mango by talented chefs.

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Vote on whether to continue mango order set

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:20 GMT

Mango importers and handlers will be voting on whether to continue the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order, and if frozen should continue to be part of the program.

The mango industry votes on the program every five years as directed in its bylaws. Frozen mangoes were added to the order in mid-2019 after stakeholders in the fresh and frozen mango industry voted for the inclusion.

The five-year vote will be Sept. 21-Oct. 9, according to a news release. Eligibility to vote goes to first handlers who have received 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangoes from growers, and importers who have brought at least 500,000 pounds of fresh mangoes or 200,000 or more pounds of frozen fruit.
Anyone eligible to vote but hasn’t received a ballot by Oct. 2 should contact referendum agent Marlene Betts at 202-720-5057/9915 or marle.betts@ams.usda.gov.

There will be two ballot questions, one for the continuation of the order, which will be counted first. If that vote is successful, the second vote on frozen mangoes will be counted.

For more information on the referendum, see the notice in the Federal Register .

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Mango board offering retail display bins, headers

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:38:55 GMT

The National Mango Board is offering new display bins and headers to retailers.

The colorful bins are designed to boost sales, and the headers — new this year — allow retailers to highlight seasonal purchases, including back-to-school, grilling, tailgating and the upcoming Cinco de Mayo (or Cinco de Mango, as promoted by the mango board’s headers).

The National Mango Board is asking suppliers to request the bins and headers through an online order form . They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The site includes a list of retailers that are already entered in the program.

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Frozen mango representatives join national promotion board

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:24:50 GMT

The National Mango Board has its first members representing frozen mangoes .

In March 2019, the national research and promotion program that established the board was amended to include members that represent the frozen industry. The change followed a vote among industry members.

Their terms start immediately, according to a news release.

The new members, the segment of the frozen mango industry they represent and the length of their terms, are:

Xiomara Elias Argote, San Luis Obispo, Calif., importer (through the end of 2022);
Jorge Sosa Perez Sandi, Michoacan, Mexico, processor (through the end of 2022); and
Jean-Christophe Hesteau, Michoacan, importer (through the end of 2021).

“On behalf of the entire National Mango Board, congratulations and welcome to the newly appointed board members from the frozen industry,” Manuel Michel, the board’s executive director, said in the release. “We look forward to working closely with all the members as we continue to drive mango consumption and develop new strategies for increasing the demand for both fresh and frozen mango.”

As with all marketing and promotion orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives the final approval for nominees chosen by the industries they represent.

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UPDATED: Industry votes in favor of adding frozen to mango program

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National Mango Board seeks frozen fruit members

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:04 GMT

Following an industry vote that narrowly approved frozen mangoes to be included in National Mango Board programs, the board is seeking members to represent the frozen fruit.

The board has three positions open for frozen mango participation, with three-year terms starting in 2020, according to a news release. There are slots for two importers and one processor of frozen mangoes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gives the final approval for board members, but companies who import frozen mangoes will vote on two choices for each open position. For the processor nominations, foreign processors will choose the two candidates for the USDA to consider for the position, according to the release.

“Board members dedicate themselves to the NMB mission to increase consumption of mangos in the U.S. through innovative research and promotional activities, while also fostering a thriving industry,” according to the release. “Board members work closely with the NMB staff to carry out marketing, research and communications programs to benefit the mango industry.”

The USDA reported in July that 52.5% of first handlers and importers of fresh and frozen mangoes voted in favor of adding frozen mangoes to the board’s promotion and research mission.

Members of the frozen mango industry can find more details and application forms for serving on the board at mango.org/nominations . Nominations are due by Sept. 20. Questions about the process should contact Anna Deschamps-Polonia at APolonia@mango.org or 407-629-7318, ext. 112.

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Time to get creative with Mango Mania Display contest

These retail stores won National Mango Board display awards

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:19:33 GMT

Who created the craziest, most eye-catching mango displays in their retail produce departments?

The National Mango Board , Orlando, Fla., decided on the winners out of 120 eligible entries nationwide in the ninth annual Mango Mania Display Contest, according to a news release.

Competing retailers nationwide created eye-catching displays for at least one week in June, winning more than $1,500 in cash incentives.

Each participating store received a $15 digital gift card, and stores that included Tajín products in the displays received an extra $15 incentive.

The board encouraged stores to use its point-of-sale materials showcasing selection, cutting and nutrition messages to educate shoppers, as well as use creativity and props.

Board members judged the entries based on creativity, visual appeal and effectiveness in educating customers about mangos.

“The retailers’ excitement to promote this super fun superfruit is energizing! This contest continues to be a great way to engage our retailers while boosting mango sales and movement,” Valda Coryat, mango board marketing director, said in the release.

The top winners for one to six registers are:

1st place, $500 prize: Lacy Dunn at Safeway in Springfield, Ore.;
2nd place, $250 prize: Carlos Gomez at Foodland Markets in Waxahachie, Texas; and
3rd place, $100 prize: Ryan Petralia at Price Rite in Rochester, N.Y.

The top winners for seven or more registers are:

1st place, $500 prize: Russell Varga at Chuck’s Produce in Vancouver, Wash.;
2nd place, $250 prize: Allen Thomas at Chuck’s Produce in Vancouver, Wash; and
3rd place, $100 prize: Willie Szabo at Price Rite Marketplace in Rochester, N.Y.

UPDATED: Industry votes in favor of adding frozen to mango program

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:08:03 GMT

(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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The Texas effect on Mexican mangoes

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:28 GMT

Click here to read the full profile on Mexican mangoes.

It can take two to three days for mangoes to ship from Mexico to U.S. ports, but there’s been a backlog of trucks because of the freezing weather in Texas.

“It’s making the logistics costs almost double; it has been really, really difficult,” said David Ponce, procurement manager for Amazon Produce Network.

The backlog could last another couple of weeks, he said Feb. 19.

“We thought weather in Texas was going to get better, but what truck brokers have told us is no one wants to go into Texas, and drivers have been stuck there for days,” Ponce said.

“Fruit is still crossing into McAllen, Texas, from Mexico, so we’ve had a delay of five days for loading from Texas to the rest of country, and everybody else seems to be in the same boat. And then with the trucks available, the cost has skyrocketed.”

Cindy Swanberg Schwing joins the National Mango Board as retail account manager

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 18:28:57 GMT

The National Mango Board welcomes Cindy Swanberg Schwing as its newest Retail Account Manager handling the West Coast region.

Schwing brings a varied background to the NMB with more than 20 years of experience in the produce industry. Schwing will work with retailers on the West Coast of the United States to set strategic programs and help retailers grow their mango category and increase year-round mango sales.

With farm roots in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a love for agriculture drives Schwing’s passion for the industry. International living experiences on a farm in Sweden, bilingual communications, and foodservice ties propelled Schwing to become a three-time business owner and seasoned negotiator throughout her career.

“I have always been a strong advocate for the agriculture industry from my roles with Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL), Texas Agri-Women, and Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)’s ‘In Bloom.’ I look forward to building new relationships within the entire mango supply chain, including growers, shippers, and retailers,” Schwing said. “Mango is a fun, versatile fruit and offers endless possibilities for promotions. I hope to further enhance exposure for the mango industry and, as a result, help increase U.S. mango sales substantially.”

Schwing led successful branded marketing programs throughout her career including Rio Queen Citrus, Trophy 1015 Onions, Alita watermelons, and London mangos. A natural leader, Schwing believes in staying ahead of the market trends while building relationships and connecting with customers.

“Cindy’s experience with numerous private produce companies and a trade association along with her fluency in Spanish will further enhance the NMB’s retail initiatives,” said Tammy Wiard, senior retail marketing manager for the NMB. “Her expertise, industry knowledge, and love for produce will strengthen our retail team and continue our ongoing success.”

National Mango Board unveils refreshed brand and website

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 16:51:27 GMT

The mango has a whole new brand.

The Orlando, Fla.-based National Mango Board has officially launched its updated website along with refreshed branding.

The process of introducing the new brand took more than a year from conception to execution, according to a news release.

The new branding will elevate mangoes and make the fruit “more accessible and understood by the mango-curious,” according to the release.

“Mangoes are one of the oldest fruits in the world, dating back more than 5,000 years to its origins in India,” Manuel Michel, National Mango Board executive director, said in the release. “The board and industry have made great strides over the past 15 years to continue to increase the consumption of mango in the United States, and with this rebrand we aim to educate more consumers about the flavor, nutritional value and versatility of mango.”

The brand was developed with input from the board’s staff, board members and its agency partner, Bigeye, according to the release.

“The new branding is big, bold and flavorful, styled to feel contemporary, but nuanced enough to reflect the rich history of mango,” Tricia Bramley, marketing and communications director, said in the release.

“Our digital presence has grown over the past 18 months, spurred on by our intentional marketing pivot due to the pandemic. Now, our website truly reflects where we are and paves the path for where we are going.”

National Mango Board seeks nominees

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:34:15 GMT

The National Mango Board is seeking nominations for seven open board member positions.

The board’s mission is to increase awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the United States and to inspire and educate consumers about the culture, flavor and nutrition of the world’s most versatile superfruit – the mango – while bringing the industry together.

Mango industry members are encouraged to complete a nomination application for the following available seats, with a final deadline to submit by February 25, 2022.

• Three (3) Foreign Producers
• Two (2) District III Importers
• One (1) District IV Importer
• One (1) First Handler

The National Mango Board consists of 18 total members in the fresh mango industry including importers, domestic producers, foreign producers and a first handler. Board members, who are appointed to a three-year term, work closely with the staff at the National Mango Board to carry out Marketing, Research and Industry Relations programs to benefit the mango industry.

Applications are available at www.Mango.org/Nominations or by contacting the National Mango Board Executive Director, Manuel Michel at mmichel@mango.org or Operations Manager, Gabi Ward at gward@mango.org. Final decisions on all board member appointments are made by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

USDA and the National Mango Board seeks diversity in the unique mango community of growers, importers, shippers, distributors, marketers, partners and more. In October 2021, the National Mango Board unveiled a brand refresh designed to elevate mango’s superfruit benefits and reach a more diverse audience. The National Mango Board encourages industry members without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, protected genetic information, or reprisal.

Mango board names new officers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:21:13 GMT

The National Mango Board has new officers.

Michael Warren, president of Central American Produce, is the new chairman. Joella Shiba, marketing for GM Produce Sales LLC, Hidalgo, Texas, is vice-chairwoman. The board’s secretary is Marsela McGrane, Los Angeles, who has been treasurer at Vision Produce Co. Mango board treasurer is Chris Ciruli partner at Ciruli Bros., Rio Rico, Ariz.

“I would like to thank our newly elected officers for their commitment to this organization and to the mango industry,” Manuel Michel, National Mango Board executive director, said in a news release. “These are very exciting times for the mango industry, though we still face several challenges that will need to be addressed to continue our progress.”

The officers began their new roles at the recent mango board meeting in Portland, Ore.

Mango supplies poised for strong spring movement

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:21:23 GMT

Retailers should see plenty of mango volume this spring for heavy promotions, importers say.

Greg Golden, partner in Vineland, N.J.-based Amazon Produce Network , said the Mexican mango season started earlier this year than previous years, but demand usually increases in the spring.

“This year, pricing has been very promotable,” Golden said. “We should see 3 to 4 million boxes a week in April” shipping from Mexico.

He predicted another season of record-breaking volume with peak supplies from southern Mexico from the beginning of April to mid-May, shifting to more northern regions, such as Nayarit and Sinaloa, from mid-June through August.

“Retailers should have zero reservations on promoting heavily for Cinco de Mayo,” Golden said.

“The past few years it’s been hard to have enough volume for hot retail prices. It lines up really nice for us this year.”

Rudy Uresti, CEO of Jade Produce LLC , Mission, Texas, said he expects strong Mexican mango volumes in April and May.

“In spring, things start moving more and more,” he said.

Uresti said some Mexican mangoes arrived too early in the season, in February, and that suppressed the market.

Chris Ciruli, partner in Ciruli Bros. LLC , Rio Rico, Ariz., also said he expects a huge mango season from Mexico starting in mid-April.

Prices

As of March 26, flats of one-layer haden 6-8s from Mexico were $4-5, tommy atkins were $4-4.50, and autaulfo 12s were $6.50-7.50, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Manuel Michel, executive director of the National Mango Board , Orlando, Fla., said mango volumes from late March to the week of May 14 should be 16% higher over last year, with 49 million boxes in 2018 compared to 42 million boxes last year.

“Through the spring months, mangoes from Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Haiti are available in the U.S.,” he said.

James Watson, mango commodity manager for Robinson Fresh , Eden Prairie, Minn., said “We anticipate a healthy volume of mangoes this spring.”

“It should be comparable to a typical season. To date, we have not witnessed any extreme weather events or other factors that would lead us to believe the crop yield will be anything but normal.”

Sizing

Watson said in April and May, mangoes will primarily be arriving from Oaxaca and Michoacan, Mexico.

“The sizing profile is expected to be typical with peak sizing on 9s, 10s, and 12s,” he said in late March.

The mango board reports Mexican mango sizes are larger than normal.

Michel said about two-thirds of ataulfo/honey mangoes are large — sizes 12, 13-15 and 16-17, and about a third are small — sizes 18, 20, and 22-23.

He said 63% of Mexican round varieties, tommy atkins and hadens, are large, sizes 10, 9, and 8; 19% are extra-large, sizes 7 and 6; and 18% are small, sizes 12 and 14.

According to the mango board, the Peruvian season was expected to finish in early April, and the Costa Rican season should lose steam by mid-April.

The Mexican season began in January and runs until October. The Nicaraguan season started in mid-March and is expected to run until the last week of April.

The Guatemalan season began in March and should run through the end of May. The Haitian season should begin the third week of April and run until September.

The chance to be a member of the National Mango Board is now

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:44:05 GMT

The National Mango Board is seeking nominations for six board member positions before a Feb. 20 deadline.

The newly appointed members will serve three-year terms beginning January 2020. Open positions include one importer in District III, two importers in District IV and three foreign producers. In addition to working in the mango industry, candidates must meet certain requirements to be eligible and be willing to serve the mango industry by fulfilling board member roles and responsibilities.

The board is comprised of 18 mango industry members: importers, a first handler, domestic producers and foreign producers. They work to increase consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. through research and promotional activities, working with board staff in marketing, research and communications programs.The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture ultimately appoints new board members from a final slate of nominees.

Interested mango-industry members can visit mango.org/nominations for more information. For questions about the nominations and appointment process, contact Anna Deschamps-Polonia at APolonia@mango.org or (407) 629-7318 ext. 112.

Mango Board seeks logo on boxes of mangoes

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:44:50 GMT

The National Mango Board is asking packers/marketers to use the group’s logo on mango boxes or Price Look-Up stickers.

According to the board, studies have shown that consumers want help in choosing, cutting and using mangoes. Adding the logo with the name of the board encourages consumers — and people in the supply chain — to visit the board’s website (mango.org) to find tools that will help businesses and educate and inspire customers, according to a news release.

To sign up and support the mango board’s mission of continuing to drive fresh mango consumption, see https://www.mango.org/educate-inspire-drive/ .