Under the Mango Tree

Culture, Farm, Featured, People, Secrets & Lies

Empaque Don Jorge (Agricola Crespo)

May 22, 2019

Mango Holding Area, Empaque Don Jorge, El Rosario, Sinaloa Mexico

Boasting the most efficient and modern mango pack house around

Disclaimer: This is a boastful and prideful post about a packing house that I truly believe in. I’m one of a few globally well-traveled industry folks with an extremely diverse make up of commodities, markets, cultures and systems. I have seen a lot of packing houses and “sheds” in my travels and this one is my personal favorite- which is why I’ work with them. Boasting this facility and the Crespo’s is the natural outcome of my true beliefs.

We don’t talk enough about packing houses in our business yet this is the one place that usually solves and/or causes most problems in terms of product quality and food safety. Most fruits and vegetables are harvested and then brought to a packing house or shed where they are then packed into various bulk or retail packaging. These large and small sorting/packing hubs serve as the distribution outlet for the farm and/or the farmers. These facilities can be modern, elaborate, high tech, clean and simple, dirty and even bare bones covered (shaded) tables where things like fresh herbs are packed right out of the field.

Farm, Featured, Secrets & Lies

Mango Truths (Forecasting Summer)

May 8, 2019

Sleuthing through the noise north and south of the border

The truth is not always easy to find. It’s much like self-awareness. You have to have a great deal of will to find it. The current mango market is a strange one that has a lot of folks asking questions about what’s currently happening and what’s next.

In addition to produce being fickle in general, global warming has made forecasting difficult and unpredictable. Making matters worse, the industry is getting ultra-competitive with skinnier profit margins and higher operating costs. Mangoes -all the while- are a booming business. American consumers increasingly clamor for this sweet fruit, and there is little demand slowdown in sight. To-the-minute information is almost impossible to get right and those able to provide it often feel like they’re yielding what little power they have left by sharing it.

Featured, Kitchen

Crazy Mango Flowers

April 7, 2019

Is the perfect Spring cocktail/mocktail with major flower power

I’m infatuated with the floral qualities of mangoes and discovered it’s possible to make these lovely notes pop even more when you combine them with actual flower essences. Floral noted spirits, floral bitters and actual flowers- combined with mangoes, gives my floral obsession more flower power! This drink is the result of that power and my obsession. Continue Reading…

Farm, Featured

Copious Mexican Fruit (Coming Soon)

March 7, 2019

All Region Season Predictions are In

It’s a funny (funny weird, not funny ha ha) time to report on copious amounts of mangoes. Supply on the round mangoes has taken an abrupt turn this week as Peru’s volume of Kents finally came to a halt and as Mexican Tommy Atkins are still just drizzling out of the orchards. Shortage is the main talk of the mango town. ………BUT.

Farm, Featured, Secrets & Lies

Carbon Sequestration in Mango Trees

February 25, 2019

Nature gives us a green deal in mangoes

The business of growing food for the American and Canadian markets in Mexico can often seem, and often times is, a strain on the environment. Regardless of whether your climate change viewpoints fall right, left or center, we could all agree that the unpredictable nature of weather affects us all. As more and more people around the globe lean more towards believing in climate change, more resources are shifted into its science and studies, and with that comes not only solutions but simple information that can sometimes surprise us all.

New studies are continuing to emerge leading to conclusions that mango orchards can help mitigate climate change.

Featured, Product

Ataulfo Marketing 101

February 13, 2019

Shortcutting the promotion of Mexico’s yellow slipper

This is an industry geared post.

Even though the rain is currently falling and the snow dropping, spring is definitely coming. It always does and when it does mango sales increase. The way we crave comfort food in the winter is exactly the way we crave healthy and vibrant foods in the spring. Mangoes are both healthy and vibrant and Ataulfos are the most vibrant and healthy mangoes we have access to in our organic marketplace. The buttery smooth Ataulfo flesh makes them extremely versatile for cooking and they are easy to please consumers price wise with sizing at 14/16/18 vs 8/9/10. The Crespo Organic Ataulfo program is robust. Not only do we take sizing and quality seriously but we have invested in the consistency of volume necessary to build sales and ongoing national programs. The Crespo Organic seasons starts in late January and moves through the end of August, so its also long one- worthy of some attention, especially as Ataulfos take off as the fastest growing organic varietal among consumers.

Featured, Kitchen

Winter Citrus & Mango Frenzy

February 7, 2019

Magic happens when mangoes meet winter citrus

I am lucky to live in California, a place where citrus literally falls off trees in winter and brightens our rain soak days. Our grocery stores and farmers markets are brimming with a variety of brightly hued choices and my neighbors give me buckets of Meyer lemons, mandarins, oranges as well as a cluster of other varieties. So we may have went a little crazy in the Crespo Organic Kitchen the last few weeks creating recipes with these offerings. Mangoes compliment citrus perfectly by balancing with sweetness, eliminating the need for excess sugar. The perfumed nature of ripe mangoes balances the deep rich flavor of citrus peels. We are quite pleases with these recipes and think we offer something for everyone – sweet and savory. Its a celebration of the magic that occurs when mangoes are paired with citrus!