“High-quality fruit”: Ecuador’s Tango mandarins make their U.S. debut

It's a first for Ecuadorian fruit grower and distributor Ecuagroimport. The company is breaking into the U.S. market with its first shipment of Tango mandarins.  With an initial 13.32-ton cargo shipped in mid-July, the debut marks a milestone six years in the making for the company and the South American country.

Santiago Latorre, legal representative of Ecuagroimport, told FreshFruitPortal.com the shipment made it to its destination on August 8. The 888 33-pound boxes are now available to American consumers in select supermarkets.

Ecuagroimport’s first shipment of Ecuadorian Tango mandarins.

Tango mandarins are seedless, easy to peel, and boast an optimal Brix-to-acidity ratio, attributes the company considers key to market success. 

“We are very proud to have arrived in the United States with our first shipment, because that means we have a very high-quality fruit,” he said. And this is not just Latorre's opinion: the quality of Ecuagroimport's Tango mandarins has been verified through USDA analysis and classified as U.S. Number One grade, in compliance with GLOBALG.A.P. standards.

The Latin American company manages approximately 80 acres of land dedicated to cultivating Tango mandarins, which they plan to expand by over 50 percent in the future. The company is also testing a larger variety for earlier market entry and exploring new markets.

Takes (more than) two to Tango 

Producing citrus both in the Sierra and on Ecuador’s coast, Ecuagroimport’s journey with Tango mandarins began through its partnership with Eurosemillas, the worldwide distributor of the variety. The initial challenge involved overcoming a lack of technical expertise and navigating phytosanitary requirements, including cold treatment protocols.

Latorre credited the company’s experience in exporting mangoes, dragon fruit, and avocados for facilitating the process, while Ecuador’s Agrocalidad and USDA inspections ensured compliance with export standards. “It has been an incredible learning process,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, the company aims to begin its next harvest no later than June 15, 2026, focusing on maintaining high-quality exports and expanding acreage to meet growing demand.

*All photos courtesy of Santiago Latorre Ugarte.

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