Orlando, Fla. (January 14, 2011) – The recently released Mango Postharvest Best Management Practices Manual is designed to improve mango quality at each step of the mango supply chain from harvest to the retail store. The publication is the culmination of nearly four years of research and analysis funded by the National Mango Board (NMB) and conducted by a team of mango experts led by Dr. Jeff Brecht of the University of Florida. It is available for download at www.mango.org/manual.
The goal of the Mango Postharvest Best Management Practices Manual is to provide all members of the mango supply chain with tools and information to help them deliver outstanding mango quality to U.S. consumers on a consistent basis. The NMB’s mission is to increase demand for mangos in the U.S., and consistent mango quality is an extremely important factor, according to NMB executive director, William Watson.
In the manual, users will find a detailed outline of the mango supply chain with best practices described at each step. A section on quality control procedures covers other important topics, such as determining mango maturity. Also included are forms for assessing mango quality and for auditing handling procedures at the farm, packinghouse, importer warehouse, distribution center or retail store.
According to Watson, “The quality of mangos shipped to the U.S. is generally quite good. Improvements in quality can only help to drive greater consumer confidence and more trust from our retail partners.” Watson continued, “Each time a consumer has a great mango eating experience, we build momentum and increase the chances that they will buy mangos again in the future. Working to ship better quality is an investment in the future of the mango business.”
The manual was released on December 13 on the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) extension website. It is also available on the NMB’s site at www.mango.org/manual. The downloadable PDF file can be accessed by chapter or topic by clicking on the PDF “bookmark” icon on the left side of the screen, making the 71 page document very easy to navigate and use. The manual is being translated to Spanish and Portuguese for widespread use in the key source countries that ship mangos to the U.S.
The NMB’s 2007-09 research project, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Mango Supply Chain to Improve Mango Quality, was the basis for the Mango Postharvest Best Management Practices Manual. This project involved sending researchers into the mango growing regions in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Guatemala to observe the supply chain in action, evaluate quality parameters and identify practices to improve mango quality. Researchers from the University of Florida, University of California Davis, Universidad Del Valle in Guatemala and PEB Commodities conducted the research, analyzed the findings and developed the recommendations for the manual.
“This project and the manual are a unique endeavor for the mango industry,” said Watson. “It’s the first time anyone has looked at the mango supply chain from the main source countries all the way to the U.S. retail display, compared the methods used in different places, and developed a set of best practices for mango handling. This is an exciting development for the mango industry.”
The NMB is currently creating an extension program to engage growers and packers in the source countries and encourage the adoption of the best practices outlined in the manual. Details about the extension program will be released later in 2011.
Source: Nataional Mango Board
