Mexico ranks fifth worldwide in mango production

Mexico ranked fifth in producing countries of mango worldwide, with a production of more than 2.15 million tons in 2021, an annual growth of 3.4% reported this Friday the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader).

According to government data, this tropical fruit is grown in 23 states of the country, on approximately 207,000 hectares, and in 2021 reached a value of 10,859 million pesos (571.5 million dollars).

The main varieties cultivated in Mexican territory are Ataúlfo (30%), Manila (15%), Kent (15%), Tommy Atkins (14%), Haden (9%) and Criollo (7%), while other varieties represent 11%.

During a meeting called “Our Wealth: Ataúlfo Mango”organized by Sader, the researcher of the National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP), María Hilda Pérez, highlighted that there are six countries worldwide that lead mango production and “Mexico has consolidated its fifth position”.

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Meanwhile, the specialist emphasized that the country has several advantages to export this fruit, such as a warm climate, proximity to the United States and Canada, as well as the development of technology to grow mangoes with the highest quality standards.

In contrast, Pérez said that there are still pending to strengthen the productive chain such as improving the quality of the fruit, modernizing orchards, actions against global warming, producing with bioproducts, generating new varieties and increasing exports, especially to European markets.

On the other hand, the president of the Mango Product System Committee, Daniel Radilla, explained that the production chain is made up of more than 53,873 farmers, of which 13,793 export to the United States.

Radilla expressed that this agri-food sector has a “growing export potential” with 7,174 orchards registered in the export market.

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While the representative of Agriculture in Chiapas, Héctor Cano de la Torre, shared that, in the Soconusco region, the peculiarity of flavors, colors and smells of the fruit originates from the number of cross-pollinations that produced unique varieties such as Ataúlfo, the most recognized in Mexico.

In this sense, he explained that this variety is widely accepted in the national and international market, since it has a longer shelf life, in addition to the fact that its flavor and color are highly preferred by Latin and Oriental consumers.

Source: EFE