After successful trial shipments of 1,000 trays of Calypso mangoes to the US earlier this year, OneHarvest is looking at kicking off its US export programme after Christmas, with 60 tonnes of mangoes to be shipped over six to eight weeks.
Working alongside importer Guimarra, OneHarvest GM of corporate communications Brenda Walker told Fruitnet that mangoes are growing in popularity in the US, with the OneHarvest team heading over to US fresh produce trade showPMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta, Georgia,to scope potential for expanding its marketing and growing programme.
“While we are there [at PMA Fresh Summit], we will be meeting with wholesalers, retailers and potential supply chain partners, discussing both imports and the potential for B74 (Calypso) mangoes to be grown in or close to the US,” Walker said.
“It’s a very exciting time for Calypso and we have high hopes that we are laying the groundwork for what has the potential to be a highly successful brand in the US market, in a category that is really starting to take off.”
Success in Australia has shown that mangoes drive not just produce sales, but entire stores sales, Walker explained.
“They are now growing in popularity in the US, and according to National Mango Board figures the incidence of people eating mangoes increased from 67 per cent in 2007 to 78 per cent in 2011,” Walker said, adding that 99 per cent of consumed mangoes in the US are imported.
This season will also see OneHarvest scope out trial shipments into Canada, and will also see Calypso mangoes introduced into the Malaysian market, Walker said, adding that OneHarvest will continue its strong retail programmes in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Aussie marketing rights for Calypso mangoes sold
OneHarvest has signed an agreement with NT Land Corporation to lease its Northern Territory Calypso mango orchards to the group from 1 March 2016, subject to approval, with OneHarvest to continued working with and for NT Land to do the ongoing brand development and promotional activities each year, and further develop export markets.
“In recent times we had had some serious interest from organisations interested in purchasing the mango business,” Walker told Fruitnet. “Some months ago, this interest became substantial enough that we made the decision to explore the opportunity with potential purchasers and instigated a process with an investment advisory firm to pursue this possibility on our behalf and see if there was genuine interest that would lead to a sale.This development is the outcome of that process.”
“We are working with the NT Land team and utilising the respective strengths of each of our organisations to maximise the overall result for all Calypso stakeholders – growers, customers, head licensors and service providers and, of course, consumers. Everyone involved is doing all we can to ensure the change is seamless and efficient,” Walker said.
