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Known as the "king of fruit" the mango is sometimes it is referred to as "the apple of the tropics". More fresh mangoes are eaten world-wide than any other fruit and the name "mango" is derived from the Tamil word "mangkay" or "man-gay".  When the Portuguese traders settled in Western India they adopted the name as "manga".

Mango trees are very tall and have thick, leathery leaves.  From their branches, long stems hold clusters of fruits that can range from a few ounces to a few pounds.  They are harvested with the aid of a picking device attached to the end of a bamboo pole which also holds a collection sack. Mangoes are harvested at a mature, green stage to withstand the post-harvest handling steps required to bring them to market.  The mango tree is a symbol of love in India and some believe that the mango tree can grant wishes.

Mangoes originated in East India, Burma and the Andaman Islands, bordering the Bay of Bengal, and records date from over 4000 years ago.  The mango seed can't be dispersed naturally by wind or water due to it's large size and weight so it is believed that people moving from one region to another transported the fruit to new areas.  The spread of Buddhism assisted in the distribution of mangoes in South Eastern Asia and around the 5th century BC Buddhist monks are believed to have introduced the mango to Malaysia and Eastern Asia.  Legend has it that Buddha found tranquillity and repose in a mango grove.  Persian traders are believed to have taken the mango to the Middle East and Africa and from there the Portuguese took it to Brazil and the West Indies in the 1700’s. The mango then arrived in Florida in the 1830’s and in California in the 1880's.  Today there are over 1000 different varieties around the world but all of them originated from two main strains of mango seed, one from India and the other from Indo-China.

Main Producing Countries

There are over 20 million metric tons of mangoes grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world with Asia growing more than three-quarters of the world’s production.  The leading mango producer is India.  More mangoes are grown in India than all their other fruits combined but they export very little since most are consumed within the country.  Mexico and China compete for second place followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Nigeria, Brazil, the Philippines and Haiti.

When selecting mangoes, choose fruits that are firm and free of blemishes.  The colour of mangoes vary depending on the variety but colour does not indicate ripeness or a better flavour.  A ripe mango will yield to slight pressure when held between your hands and will emit a fruity aroma from the stem end of the fruit.  If the mango is not ripe store it at room temperature for several days until it ripens or place in a paper bag together with an apple which will help it ripen sooner.  Ripened mangoes should be refrigerated until eaten, but only for a day or so.

For More Information

Mango trees are evergreens that will grow 60 feet tall.

Mango-The King of Fruit.Feb 2001