Cautiously optimistic early Mexican mango season start forecast in Oaxaca & Chiapas
For the last several weeks, the brothers Crespo of El Grupo Crespo – Jorge, Roberto and Jose Angel – have been driving through southern Mexico. After some initial hesitation in relaying some positivity, they concurred that it was time to officially announce an early start to the Mexican mango season in the earliest producing regions, Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Brothers Crespo. Credit: El Grupo Crespo.
Complexities
The Ataulfo mango is always the first to start in every region and Tommy Atkins usually begins about 3 or 4 weeks later. Nissa Pierson of El Grupo Crespo shares: “Generally speaking, the southern region of Oaxaca has the first export-ready picks occurring sometime towards the end of January. Then, fruit lands usually on US soil by early February. The south is the most difficult logistically, and replenishment of the mango pipeline takes time. So, the onset of the season always feels empty. By the last week of March, things generally shift, and it begins to feel like mangoes of all varietals are flowing nicely.”