In deep with mangoes...

I've now jumped in head first into a pile of mangoes! It’s a good thing that I like mangoes!

With the start of work has also come the start of much learning and discovery. Last week I was able to spend two whole days in a meeting with 70 producers, transformers and exporters of mangoes! I’ve discovered many of the challenges and set backs faced by the players in the mango production.

Many producers lack the technologies necessary to combat the invasion of fruit flies that devastate at least 10% of their harvest and they lack the infrastructure to get their mangoes to all the other players in the value chain. One thing they do not lack in is mangoes, but sometimes waiting for a truck to bring their mangoes to market will arrive after the mangoes are rotten.

The transformers are busy working at making jams (it is so tasty it’s how I start every day!), dried mangoes (that taste way better than you can ever imagine in Canada!!) and other products, but are left searching for markets to sell.

The exporters are left waiting for quantities of fruits and transformed goods, never quite making the quota due to so many set back.

I’m now in deep with mangoes and they are becoming much more than just a fruit!