Mango harvest is happening in two states at once for grower and exporter Manbulloo, with Queensland in production since September 20, and the Northern Territory back underway following a short break due to Extended flowering. “The early varieties Kensington pride and R2E2 are still being harvested and for mangoes it’s definitely a long season,” says Marie Piccone, of Manbulloo. “We don’t expect to finish in Katherine, the Northern Territory essentially, until November 28. We’re going to finish two to three weeks later than most seasons with a harvest overlap of about four weeks between each state.”
It’s a protracted harvest where we are coping with high temperatures and storms during harvest for the grower," says Ms Piccone. "In mangoes, every harvest is unique and is usually 'hard won and hard fought.”
The overlap in harvesting across Manbulloo locations was expected, though not for as long as it looks like it will last according to Ms Piccone. Manbulloo has two pack houses in operation, one in each state, packing Kensington Pride and R2E2 mangoes. “We are very specific about our harvest strategy. Both Kensington Pride and R2E2 are harvested only when they will have great eating quality and sensational flavour. It is very important to leave the R2E2 variety on the tree until they’re fully mature and will ultimately be a great consumer eating experience."
"Even though 2 of our farms were hit by severe storms during the last two weeks, we’re still filling up to 170 bins per day.” All in all final volumes for this harvest will probably be down by 20% on 2014, she adds.
The ‘fair share’ of impact from weather for Manbulloo farms has not affected exports to Mainland China or South Korea, both markets where consumers are ‘screaming’ for the large, luscious looking R2E2 mango, Ms Piccone says. “At the moment they’re definitely in demand, and getting a good price. Even on the Australian market premium trays can go for $40 each.”
For exports Manbulloo goes directly to Mainland China and is able to send vapour heat-treated fruit, rather than waiting to see whether fruit will pass inspections on the open markets such as Singapore. “In Mainland China they love the size and flavour of the R2E2 mango,” Ms Piccone says. “We’re also preparing to send some mangoes to the US in the next few weeks. We’re doing pilot trials and they should land in December.”
