The importance of mango literacy with Mango Hunter Jeff Ray
“If we keep talking about it. We’ll figure out solutions together to make it easier for everyone to get amazing mangoes.” -Mango Hunter Jeff Ray
I’ve been teaching people about food since my late 20s, starting with culinary herbs and eventually opening Ger-Nis Culinary & Herb Center in Brooklyn. My career in food education has always paralleled my work with farmers in global morganic agriculture. I believe that for farmers to succeed, consumers must understand the entire chain of connection from farm to table. Likewise, farmers need to understand the end user and the commodity they are growing. When these elements are in balance, a proper supply chain can be built, leading to optimal #MangoJoy and enhanced mango literacy or more general prosperity and joy.
When I met Mango Hunter Jeff Ray, I was captivated by his passion for mangoes. It wasn’t just about the Crespo mango he used in the first video I saw. His enthusiasm highlighted the industry’s gap between farmers, the product, and consumers. It was an “Oprah aha moment” for me, reminding me that mango literacy (a term I’m coining, much like #MangoJoy) is something we all must create together. It takes a lot of work and, more importantly, a passion for mangoes, which Jeff and I know many people share!
