Guatemalan mango exporters are reportedly gearing up for a push on the US market as part of a new project devised by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture (Maga) and the national exporters’ association (Agexport) in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
During the course of 2009, the mango industry plans to increase exports to the US by 5 per cent under a new USDA-APHIS export protocol, according to a news report by the Guatemala Times.
The move will build on the success of last year’s shipments when Guatemala exported some 4m cartons of mangoes, worth US$20m, to the US.
To achieve the export increase, Guatemala’s network of mango producers have reportedly boosted their selection process which now includes thermal cleaning process to remove all pests and bacteria present on fruit.
As part of the deal, the country’s six mango production plants will expand production in order to adequately satisfy demand from US buyers.
There are currently around 6,000ha planted with mangoes in Guatemala, according to data compiled last year by Profruta. Some 94 per cent of the crop is exported to the US with the balance headed for Europe.
