Mango Blog

For the Love of Mangos - Piura, Peru

Curator Noris Ledesma once again delves into the world of mangos with an ambitious agenda of mango hunting and adventure to capture the harsh realities that the Peruvian mango is confronting. The Peruvian mango is an export fruit and Peru is the second country to bring mangos to the United States. Their mangos arrive around Thanksgiving, when other countries’ mangos are not ripe.  Peru produces many Florida mangos, including ‘Edward’ for the local market where the prices were quite good, as well as ‘Kent’, ‘Keitt’, and ‘Ataulfo’ (from Mexico) for export.

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Piura, Peru August 6, 2009

Thu, Aug 06, 2009 at 11:30:45 AM

We visited Camposol S.A. the biggest mango producer in Peru. I was struck by their massive scale and the extent of the agriculture on the lower and middle slopes and dry arenales.  CAMPOSOL is engaged in the cultivation of land and the raising, harvesting, processing and commercializing of agricultural products and fruit including mangos, avocados, asparagus, sweet peppers, artichokes, which are exported fresh, canned or frozen mainly to Europe and the USA. The company currently owns 15,500 hectares in Piura, where 400 hectares are planted with mango. Their main variety is ‘Kent’.

CAMPOSOL encompasses a totally integrated business from the production of raw material in the fields to processing in the industrial plant and subsequent commercialization in Europe and the USA. Their pruning methods are excellent. They prune manually keeping the trees 2 meters high.  Due to the salinity in the region, ‘Haden' is the rootstock they use. I noticed incompatibility in their trees.

Organic mango production was one of the discussion topics during the conference, so I wanted to visit one of the orchards. There is a total area of 3,000 ha of organic mangos that are certified. After installation, maintenance of 1 ha of mango costs on average US $400 for an organic orchard, compared with US $1, 015 for a conventional orchard. Organic mango yields are around 25 tons/ha. For fresh conventional mangos, variable production and harvesting cost were 7 soles/box, while they fetched an average price in the city of 9 soles/box resulting in a considerably higher profit margin. 

My journal in Peru is finished and I bring back good memories from the land of the ‘Edward’ mango and their people. For me Peru’s potential is clear in terms of mangos, the key is to enter to the international market with a high quality standard. 


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Piura, Peru August 4 and 5, 2009

Tue, Aug 04, 2009 at 11:27:59 AM

Over the next 2 days, we had the Mango Conference organized by PROMANGO.  More than 350 participants attended including growers, members of the Administrative Committee, private businessmen, packers, exporters and the rest of the mango industry. I presented a talk on mango cultivars of the future the first day.  The next day my talk was about mango consumers in the United States. The sections of talks were diverse, covering different topics of interest for the Peruvian mango industry, weather changes, the Nino phenomenon, anthracnose, diseases in mango, regulations, industry perspectives and alternatives. We had an intense amount of talks both days.   

 

During the breaks we exchanged opinions, discussed different topics, made new friends and I got a new invitation. Before my return I spent my last day in the field.  We visited the San Lorenzo area with 15,000 ha cultivated with mango.  This shows the high importance of mango export production in the region. This region gets less than a half inch of rain each year, has salinity problems and it is hot during the day and cold during the night. The sector has a highly diverse structure in terms of farm size, farm type and socioeconomic characteristics. The area was dominated by mangos, grapes, and bananas and is set amongst a landscape of ancient history, tradition and modern realities.


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Piura, Peru August 3, 2009

Mon, Aug 03, 2009 at 11:26:06 AM

Early morning we had a busy agenda of visiting mango growers. We started the day visiting Saturno SA located in Solsol, San Isidro. I remember in 2002, when I had just arrived at Fairchild, our friend Paul Barclay was in charge of the project and he came looking for the ‘Ataulfo’ variety. We distributed about 200 budwood sticks of ‘Ataulfo’ to him. Nine years later, they have expanded their production of ‘Ataulfo’ and have 125 Ha in production which will soon expand to 200 Ha with high density. They are keeping their trees up to 2 meter high and planting at 6x4 meters in order to increase size of the fruit. Saturno also produces avocado, paprika, and pepper. I was so satisfied to see the results of one single tree in our living collection turning into 125 Ha of trees.  

In the afternoon, we visited a new mango operation. We visited Sunshine Export S.A.C. Miguel Wong, one of the owners, invited me to have a tour. They export more than 6,500 metric tons a year of fresh mangos to the United States, Europe and China. Their mangos come from their own farms and from small and medium-sized producers organized together as self-sustainable farmers, with organic certification. A few miles from the farm, we visited their packing plant which has capacity for 40,000 boxes per day. They have hydrothermal equipment which is required for shipment to the United States. This process consists of submerging the mangos for 75 to 90 minutes at 116F. The process has is approved by the sanitary authority of the US (APHIS). There is an annex to the packing plant which is the process operation. Here they dry all local fruit including mangos, pineapple and bananas. They also produce frozen dices for salads, pineapple, banana, papaya and avocado slices.


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Piura, Peru August 2, 2009

Sun, Aug 02, 2009 at 11:15:06 AM

I am using the opportunity to visit this part of the globe that is performing an important role in the mango production in the world. I arrived in Lima without incident and awaited my flight to Piura later that morning. The morning provided a wonderful chance to contrast impressive views of the upper-most peaks from the Andes with deserts, tropical valleys, dry equatorial forests covered by algarrobos (Prosopis pailida) and trupillos.  This is my first time in the dessert. In Colombia, we have the Guajira arid peninsula, but this area is less dry than the Piura dessert. 

Piura is a coastal region in northwestern Peru. The area is known for its warm tropical and dry or semi-tropical conditions. The topography is smooth in the coast and rough in the Sierra. There are many arid plains in the southern region. The Sechura Desert, located south of Piura, is Peru's largest desert and one of the world's few examples of a tropical desert.

My friends Angel Gamarra, President of PROMANGO and his wife Elsa Lazaro were waiting for me at the Airport. We had lunch in a typical restaurant where local folkloric dances entertained over a magnificent spread. I had ceviche (a typical Peruvian dish of raw fish with onion in lime sauce). 

In the afternoon, I walked around the city, ending up in the Piura open-air market, located downtown. I was hoping to find some ‘Edward’ mangos, but the beginning of August is too soon for this Floridia mango. Still looking for mangos, I saw a few, really poor ‘Edwards’. The fruit were harvested immature and they were using ethylene to get better color on the fruit. This is always the plague of fruit production, a price-driven lowering of quality that ultimately damages the market. At the market they mainly had some selections of banana, plantain, pineapple, assorted citrus, that are in season, asparagus, chilies, and papayas.  There were also tamarind and algarrobo candies. The market was rounded out by fish and some household goods.

 


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Okinawa, Japan, April 23, 2009

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 02:14:02 PM

For the Love of Mangos - Philippines, Thailand and Japan

Curator Noris Ledesma delves once again into the world of the mango with an ambitious agenda of adventures to capture the true spirit of the Asian mango and her people. In the Philippines she will take in the celebration of the mango in Guimaras to capture the 'Carabao' in her full glory.  It is then on to Thailand for a photographic tour of the Bangkok floating market, Talad Thai and the orchards of South Thailand - her lens recording the subtle shapes and expressions of the mango and her people. Then she is off to Okinawa and the modern world of the dwarf, intensive cultivation of the orient. Mangos destined for the upscale markets of Japan and beyond. Ambitious yes, but she is equal the challenge as Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden goes to the orient for the love of mangos.

 

In the morning we visited the Fruit Research Center in Nagao . Satoshi Nakasone and Masato Matsumura made a tour at the station. I was impressed with the size of the trees. They are developing a breeding program, and horticulture techniques for the local growers.

The most important cultivar is 'Irwin' , but they also are testing other Florida cultivars such as 'Valencia Pride', 'Haden', 'Keitt' and others. The Japanese preference is for red mangos. Researchers at the station are trying to extend the season of mangos in Okinawa with greenhouses. Normally fruit is harvested when fully mature and is commercially available from June to August. This is the standard type. But other types are in development to extend the harvesting period from May to August.

In the afternoon we went to visit the largest commercial mango grower on the island. Mr. Yasukichi was waiting for us. Proud of his trees, he showed us his 'Irwin' mangos. He controls the temperature to have mangos one month earlier than the rest on the island. Prunning is his key and his 20 year old mangos have been pruned every year, removing wood to rejuvenate the canopy and have more points of production. They have challenges with thrips and anthracnose to overcome. Pollination is promoted by flies during the flowering season using fish and opening the green houses. In order to attain a full red color they carefully expose the fruit to the sunlight until they get full ripenes and can be harvested. The price of mangos in the early season is about 4000 Yen/kilo and it drops to 1500 Yen/Kilo in July during the peak of the season. The local mangos in Japan are very expensive, but they satisfy urban consumers by replacing the low quality imported fruit. 

My time in Okinawa is finished, and I will bring with me a good lesson of horticulture, based in the Japanese culture that for almost one hundred years has been changing the nature of the mango tree, converting it into a small and productive expression of a bonsai Mango. Thank you to my friends in Okinawa, where the goverment and industry support me in this experiece for the Love of mangos.


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Okinawa, Japan, April 22, 2009

Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 02:18:38 PM

My friends Yasunori Hamada and John Yonemoto helped me out with their contacts in Okinawa. Takaaki Maeda from Jinnai Tropical Fruit Research Center and Hamada were waiting for me at the airport to take me to the hotel. Okinawa is comprised of 150 islands, where farming is molded to its subtropical climate. Agricultural crops include sugar cane, vegetables, flowers and fruits. Mangoes were introduced to Okinawa in the early 1900s, and since the technique for mango production using plastic greenhouses was established, mango production has been increasing year by year. Recently, mangos have become an important part of the Okinawan horticulture industry. The current mango production in Okinawa is about 1460 MT per year.

Our first visit in the morning was to the Botanic Garden Tropical Dream Center. On the way to the garden, we stopped to pick up Inoe Hirotsugu, from the Agricultural Extension Division in Okinawa. They have a tropical fruit pavilion including mango, jackfruit, canistel, cacao, acerola, and many others. Their orchid display was absolutely impressive. After the botanic garden we drove to Uruma to visit Susumu Onaga, a pioneer mango grower in Okinawa. He started his grove in 1970 in this area. Since that time he has maintained his traditional way of pruning and managing his grove.

He believes in the variety 'Irwin', like the rest of the people in Okinawa. The rootstocks used are a polyembrionic type from Taiwan. They do not induce blooming, as it occurs naturally during the cool winter season. Trees are heavily mulched and intensely managed by pruning. He leaves two principal branches horizontaly to support the canopy for the rest of their life. This will provide light in the most eficient way acording with him. We had a long discussion about mango managment. The harvest season is in June and the average wholesale price of mangos at the Okinawa central wholesale market is 100 yen/kg. I really enjoyed this visit to see for myself how the Japanese have been domesticated Florida mangos according with their tradition and culture.


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Bangkok, Thailand, April 21, 2009

Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 02:20:17 PM

Before my departure from this beautiful country, I visited yet another floating market to buy mangos and take more pictures. There are many floating markets near Bangkok; canals surround the city where the local growers bring their products from other villages.

Details make themselves clear to me on this day. The Thai mango is honed to a perfection of texture, a silky sweetness and simplicity of flavor here in Thailand. Mango has been domesticated in these lands for generations to arrive at her present perfection. Horticulturists have worked their magic of selection here in Thailand. Each variety has its own sense of place among her people. Her flavors are delicate and curves sophisticated. She, the mango is an inspiration to me and I will leave with a rejuvenated sense of her. Yet, my heart is heavy, for this land is an inspiration to the lover of the mango.

 

I want to thank Dole and their people for their support in this experience. I take with me good memories and images for the love of mangos. I travel to Okinawa- Japan and the modern world of the dwarf, intensive cultivation of the orient.


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Bangkok, Thailand, April 20, 2009

Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 02:21:03 PM

Early morning Khun pick me up to visit a mango orchard near of Panut-Nileom town, Mr. Su-vit Ku-na-wut is one of the best mango growers in Bangkok, he proud show his awards in his packing box. Some of the traditional cultivars, and most of his production is sold for export. He mainly has 'Nam Doc Mai #4' 'Nam Doc Mai- Golden', and 'Kheio Savoy'. They start to plant some 'Irwin' mangos to target the Japanese market. Fruit were sold mature green and ripe, depending on the market and the cultivar. 

Su-vit was knowledgeable about the cultivars and the management was in general improved. They had major problems with fruit fly, which they controlled through a combination of baiting, sanitation and chemical application. Pruning is well adopted in Thailand.

All pruning was by hand and the tree height was in general less than 3.5 m. Most trees has bloom induction practiced using drought stress and paclobutrazol. In speaking with him I obtained straight forward answers about cultivars, unlike what I was receive during the remainder of the expedition. 

In the afternoon we stop by the farmers market, Panut-Nileom is one of the oldest city in Thailand, and it show it in the arquitecture and their old style of life. I enjoy having lunch in a local place in town, where they served in the floor. I also coud't resist to buy some of the beuty traditional Thai banquets for the mango festival.


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Bangkok, Thailand, April 19, 2009

Sun, Apr 19, 2009 at 02:22:29 PM

Khun Punlert, my contact from Dole picked me up early to go to the Floating Market. She suggested a different place that just the local people use. We took a short journey, arriving at our destination surrounded by mangos, jackfruit and coconut palms. This was a different side of Bangkok. We passed some middle-class homes along our river route with interesting gardens comprised of a wide range of fruit trees. Along both sides of the canals the banks were cluttered with wooden houses perched precariously over the waters' edge; always adorned with potted ornamentals of all descriptions. Most conspicuous were the ornate crown-of-thorns of all shapes and colors. The floating market was dominated by mangos in season, 'Nam Doc Mai', 'Kheio Savoy', 'Raet' and also mixed vegetables, rose apple, coconuts and sticky rice served as a popular dish with ripe mango. The recipe is different than in the Philippines, but just as delicious. I used this beautiful scene to take pictures for our book. It was a pleasure to get a quick glimpse into this most unusual lifestyle running parallel to the daily life in Bangkok.

Following lunch we went to the Talad Thai wholesale fruit market, which is reported to be the largest in Asia. The market is truly immense and focused on the large-scale distribution of products. The mango section was dominated by 'Nam Doc Mai' and 'Okrong Tong'. There were 'Kheio Savoy', 'Raet' and other minor cultivars also. All were of good quality, I was expecting to see fruit in display using the traditional baskets but the modern word has reached Talad Thai and changed them to plastic. Effecient and necessary no doubt, but through the eye of the camera it is simply not the same, but I know that I cannot dwell on the past.


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Bangkok, Thailand, April 17 and 18, 2009

Sat, Apr 18, 2009 at 02:23:08 PM

The last time I visited Bangkok was to participate in the Lychee and Longan Symposium in 2002. As soon as I arrived I drank in the sounds and feel of the bustling streets, alive with the noise of car horns and commerce - the day-to-day of Bangkok. My friend Dang and her husband, mango growers nearby to the city, were waiting for me at the airport. We traveled 2 hours to their mango orchard northwest of Bangkok. On the highway I saw mangos for sale on the street, but they suggested going to the local fruit market. I gladly obliged, taking in the Thai countryside of rice, jackfruit and mango in its full glory. The market had good quality 'Nam Doc Mai' and 'Okrong Tong'. There were also 'Kheio Savoy', and a small local selection unknown to me. We partook in a few choice specimens in the afternoon heat, fully embracing the silky smoothness of the fruit. 

We arrived at their farm with the sunset. The property is surrounded by gigantic tamarind trees that gave their farm its name. At the farm, dinner was waiting for us with fresh vegetables, fish with green mango salsa. The next day, bright and early we make a tour of the orchard. The farm is organic with some traditional cultivars, and most of their production is sold internally. Fruit were sold mature green and ripe, depending on the market and the cultivar. They had major problems with fruit fly, which they controlled by bagging.

In the afternoon we returned to Bangkok. I for one was full in body and spirit with the Thai countryside and her mangos - graceful and delicious at her peak.


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