Guatemala is on course to increase its US-bound mango exports to some 4m cartons in 2011, up from 3.3m cartons (or 17,000 tonnes) last year, according to estimates released by the Guatemalan Mango Committee.
The organisation was established 12 years ago under the auspices of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport) with the aim of strengthening the industry, particularly with regards to the US market.
The US is the leading mango export market for Guatemala and, according to Committee represenative Olaf Rasch, Guatemala is considered one of the top five most important mango suppliers to the US, based on data from the US National Mango Board (NMB).
In the five years since the NMB was created, mango consumption in the US has risen by 45 per cent, while arrivals from Guatemala have increased by 51 per cent, according to Rhoney Cohen, NMB president.
Mango production is spread across 8,000ha in Guatemala, supported by 1,500 growers and 230 farms dedicated to exports to the US while others supply Europe.
The season gets underway in February and lasts till June when 80 per cent of the crop is shipped to the US and the remaining 20 per cent to Europe and Central America.
Guatemala mainly exports Tommy Atkins and Ataulfo mangoes although orchards are also planted with Keitt and Kent (albeit in small volumes), as well as other native varieties.
