Patience & Promise
Current crop report echoes cries for patience but flashes promise
As reported last week, the Mexican mango season has officially begun, but patience remains absolutely crucial. To reiterate and update: Crespo Organic Ataulfos are expected to begin landing next week, but in very limited quantities. The fruit in general from Mexico continues to follow a later ready pattern I previously discussed, particularly in reaching optimal brix levels. While I’m currently digging deeper into understanding these delays, the fundamental issue I keep coming back to – and have been emphasizing for the last few seasons in particular – is that climate change continues to make crop readiness timing harder to predict than traditional patterns would suggest.
To update on the Mexican mango packhouse openings situation from my last report: Jose Angel Crespo, our jeffe and current EMEX (Mango Exporters Association of Mexico) president, confirms only four packhouses are currently operational in Mexico, with minimal exports so far. As anticipated, most facilities are taking longer to complete full trucks as they wait for fruit maturity. Following our previous timeline, our Bola de Oro facility is next to open in Mexico, with three additional Mexican packhouses in Oaxaca and Chiapas coming online next week – a slow but steady progression toward a sweeter Mexican beginning. Our final packhouse, EDJII, maintains its scheduled opening for the following week. The Mexican Ataulfo season is indeed starting slower than usual, but this week we are showing greater positive movement progressing forward.
One significant update from my last report: we’re seeing unprecedented pricing both at the grower level and in the market – some of the highest figures we’ve encountered for early-season fruit. Hopefully the progression allows for and pushes us into greater pricing stability.
Regarding Tommy Atkins, the timeline holds as previously reported: production begins the first week of February, with fruit tentatively available for loading around February 15th in Nogales and McAllen. I’ll reinforce what I’ve been saying: February and early March will see lower volumes from Mexico on both varietals, with volume increases expected by the third week of March and abundant supplies by April.
My guidance hasn’t changed and bears repeating: our program customers remain our primary focus, as these partnerships are crucial for building sustainable mango programs with consistent supply. For buyers, I maintain my recommendation: keep larger inventories, prepare for generally larger-sized fruit, and most critically – handle those Ataulfos with extra care regarding temperature management. They truly are Mexican gold, and as I’ve said before, proper handling is essential for maintaining their premium quality.
The Mexican season is a long one – patience now makes for a much sweeter season. I promise you, soon, things will change.
