Imported Brazilian mangoes are increasing as mango shipments from Mexico are winding down. Imports from Ecuador and Peru will start arriving soon.
Ciruli Bros. LLC of Rio Rico, AZ is in its third season and is now handling mangoes year-round.
On average, over the past five years, the U.S. received nearly 32 million 4-kilogram (8.8-pound) boxes of mangoes from South America annually, according to the USDA.
Brazil has shipped about 8.2 million boxes to the U.S. annually, Ecuador about 12 million boxes and Peru about 11.6 million boxes.
South America accounts for about 28 percent of total U.S. volume.
Brazil, which ships from August to December, exports primarily the tommy atkins variety and a few kent and ataulfo (or honey) varieties; Ecuador ships tommy atkins and some kents and ataulfos from October to January; and Peru exports kents and a few ataulfos from November to March.
Ciruli Bros. reports quality of the mangoes varies by country. Much of the quality is determined by the transit times by boat which may take a couple of weeks.
Product from Ecuador can reach the U.S. in six or seven days, while the trip from Peru takes 11 days, and the voyage from Brazil can take 14 or 15 days. Freska Produce International LLC of Oxnard, CA, was kicking off its mango program from Brazil in late August with shipments to the East Coast.
CarbAmericas Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, FL. has been importing offshore mangoes for more over 25 years.
The company received its first fruit of the season from Brazil in late August.
Central American Produce Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla. started its mango program from Brazil in early September.