A ‘dream team’ of post-harvest scientists has been assembled in the US for an unprecedented study of the mango supply chain from field to table, in a bid to identify opportunities to improve fruit quality for the consumer.
The National Mango Board (NMB) has organised the initiative, which kicked off with a three-day research workshop in Orlando in October, and will involve close evaluation of mango quality and condition from major shipping points throughout the US.
At the same time, collaborators in leading mango production regions will evaluate their own mango-handling operations and provide valuable input into the study.
This first-of-its-kind project will involve producers, exporters, importers, distributors and retailers in six countries: the US, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru.
After the year-long study, to be conducted by experts at the University of Florida and the University of California, is complete, the NMB will compile a best management practices report, and identify further research needed to improve mango quality.
“We have a gut feeling there are a lot of issues out there throughout the distribution system - all the way through to store level,” said William Watson, NMB executive director. “We want to identify whether some steps are being avoided or are not being taken to improve quality, and then provide the industry with solutions to these problems.”
No comments yet