The Brazilian mango season is tailing off in the UK with low prices on wholesale markets, which fall well below cost. "Before Christmas everyone had experienced a good market and were targeting sendings for the Christmas market," said Aristeu Chaves of exporter Fruit Fort. "But the Christmas market is not that big, and after the new year starts, demand always goes slack. What you are seeing on the UK market now is the remainder of that fruit - hardly any has been shipped since January 1 - and that should clear soon."
Prices on wholesale markets this week were as low as 150-200p for Brazilian Tommy Atkins in 9s-12s. "When prices are that depressed it is below cost which is no good for anyone," warned Chaves.
Meanwhile, the Peruvian season is just starting although rainfall levels late in the growing period have been low and fruit size is on the small side. Fruit from Puerto Rico is also on stream and supplies from South Africa are expected soon.
Importers and packers for the multiples point out that the UK market is maturing and other varieties are preferred over Tommy Atkins. "What we are seeing is that consumers are moving more to the fibreless varieties Kent and Keitt," said one importer. And size matters. "As the market is more mature, the demand is increasingly for large fruit," said another.
As the Peruvian season starts, rainfall shortly before harvest was unseasonably low and so early fruit is still on the small side.
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