Ataulfo mangoes

Grupo Guerreros, a newcomer to the Mexican mango export industry, is targeting expansion on the North American market, with plans to locate new customers this year.

Specialised in the production and marketing of fresh mangoes from the state of Guerrero, the group is keen to boost its offer of Ataulfo, Haden, Manila and Tommy Atkins varieties to buyers across the US and Canada.

'In the last year we have worked hard to introduce ourselves to the North American market with our offer of Manila mangoes,' the company’s Javier Bernardino told Americafruit. 'We use a method of irradiation approved by the US so we are in full compliance with the market’s demands.'

After investing heavily during 2012 to maintain clean orchards and comply with current quality controls, Grupo Guerreros plans to boost its production volume this year. The firm operates 120ha, from which around 600 tonnes will be available for export during 2013.

Bernardino believes that Mexico’s mango industry as a whole is continuing to improve. Increasingly, he says, better technologies are being implemented by growers, which is facilitating not only the maintenance but the improvement of quality controls. This is one of the biggest challenges for the sector, he claims.

'We hope that demand in the US and Canada will increase this year as it has done annually,' adds Bernardino. 'This will permit stability in terms of prices during the first three months of the year.'

Being located in the town of San Jerónimo de Juárez on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico means Grupo Guerreros is able to take advantage of a very short rainy period to operate a production season that lasts practically the entire year.

'Harvesting starts in January with the Haden and Manila varieties, and in March the peak season of Ataulfo begins,' explains Bernardino. 'At this point, exports to the US begin, after which Ataulfo production moves to the north of Mexico from where the bulk of the volume goes to the US.'

Bernardino is hopeful that production this year will be good in general, despite the variable weather in comparison to previous years. As a result, he anticipates a short delay to the start of harvesting in January, although he does not believe this will create any complications.

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