U.S. market in sight for Aussie mangoes
The Australian mango industry is hoping to replicate its success in the New Zealand market with potential U.S. entry in 2012.
Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) chairman Peter Delis told www.freshfruitportal.com original expectations were for approval late this year, but Biosecurity Australia has indicated 2012 will be more likely.
āCertainly there are opportunities there or otherwise the negotiations wouldnāt be in place, and I think whatās happened in New Zealand is a good example,ā he says.
āThe New Zealand mango market has grown exponentially and that was with the Mexican or Florida-type variety; thatās what New Zealand consumers were used to and our product stood out.
āIf you look at the U.S. theyāre predominantly getting the Mexican and Florida varieties, so when theyāre looking for something different thatās where a market could open up for us.ā
Delis says the industry is not yet sure when the protocols will be finalized next year, but hopes they will be done in time to give growers enough notice for planning.
Australiaās main mango variety is Kensington Pride, also known as the Bowen mango, while other varieties such as R2E2, Keitt, Calypso and Honey Gold are also grown.
The industry has recently seen good uniform flowering of crops, but Delis says it is still too early to tell what the result will be in terms of fruit development, which should be seen in about six weeks time.
āThe mango industry isnāt in the business of growing flowers; weāre in the business of selling mangoes.
āFlowering is not an indicator of whatās to come. Yes, thereās been good flowering but weāve had that before and it amounted to very little ā it depends on a lot of factors.ā
Photo: www.mangoes.net.au