Orlando, Fla. – Mangos are the perfect feature for retailers’ Cinco de Mayo promotions, according to the National Mango Board (NMB). The fun, festive fruit captures the essence of the Mexican holiday and helps shoppers enjoy the festivities in a new way – as Cinco de Mango. The 2011 mango crop is shaping up to align nicely with the early May push, so retailers can reap the benefits of ample supplies, outstanding quality and multiple varieties in the marketplace.
A particularly good fit for Cinco de Mango celebrations is mango salsa, an updated take on this traditional Mexican fare. The NMB suggests the Mango and Black Bean salsa as a colorful, crowd-pleasing, party snack. Originally developed for the NMB by celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffmann, the Mango and Black Bean Salsa is available in a header card and tearpad set.
Any mango promotion can also benefit from basic mango education. According to Wendy McManus, NMB director of marketing, “So many consumers here in the U.S. just don’t know how to cut a mango or how to judge the ripeness of the fruit. They love mangos, but many of them don’t know how to handle them.” To help overcome these challenges, the NMB has developed specific POS materials to educate shoppers about cutting and ripeness. These and many other header cards and tearpads can be supplied by the NMB at no charge. POS order forms are available at www.mango.org/graphics, and retailers are encouraged to allow ten business days for order fulfillment and shipping.
Mango suppliers have been reassuring their trading partners that the freeze damage in Mexico earlier this year will have no impact on Cinco de Mayo shipments or the early part of the Mexican mango season. “Later in the season, there may be minimal impact on mango volume from the freezes, but right now, we’re gearing up to celebrate Cinco de Mango with lots of mangos on hand”, said McManus.
The mango industry is ramped up for an exciting spring/summer mango season in 2011. Bountiful mango supplies and outstanding fruit quality should help retailers and consumers share in that excitement as they celebrate Cinco de Mango!
About National Mango Board
The National Mango Board is a national promotion and research organization, which is supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board was designed to drive awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. Mangos are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, a good source of fiber and an amazing source of tropical flavor.
Mango consumption per capita has nearly quadrupled since 1990 to an estimated 2 pounds per year in 2009. Mango import volume for 2009 was 634 million pounds. Learn more at www.mango.org.
Source: National Mango Board
