The company is expanding its commercial programmes across Europe, with France as its main growth market
Malaga-based tropical fruit specialist Montosa is gearing up for the start of its Spanish mango harvest in late August with expectations of a shorter crop with good quality and large sizes.
While the abundant rainfall at the beginning of the year had a very positive impact on the crop, the company estimates that, due to earlier weather conditions, production volumes will be up to 30 per cent lower than in the previous season.
“The lower number of fruits per tree will allow us to achieve larger sizes and deliver fruit of exceptional quality. We have already secured strong sales programmes with significant growth, while we still have some volumes available for customers interested at short notice,” said commercial director Thierry Athimon.
Irwin and Osteen: two leading varieties
The company will begin its mango harvest with the Irwin variety, characterised by its smaller fruit size, bright red skin and juicy, aromatic flesh. “This is a highly exclusive variety that appeals to premium and gourmet consumers looking for a soft texture that melts in the mouth,” Athimon said.
At the beginning of September, the Osteen variety will follow. This accounts for around 75 per cent of Spain’s mango production. With its red-purple colour, generous flesh and subtle balance between sweetness and acidity, the Osteen mango is popular in Europe. “It is valued above all for its flavour and texture, as its fibre-free flesh provides a particularly pleasant eating experience,” Athimon continued.
Axarquía origin: optimal ripening and local sourcing
Both Montosa’s Spanish mangoes and avocados are grown in the Axarquía region of Malaga, a unique area that provides ideal conditions for subtropical fruit cultivation in Europe.
“Having our orchards located so close to our facilities allows us to apply all our expertise to tree care and, subsequently, to our controlled ripening processes. In this way, we ensure that each batch reaches the required Brix levels, guaranteeing consistent quality and the high food safety standards for which we are recognised in international markets,” said Marta Santos, quality manager at Montosa.
“The Axarquía origin is undoubtedly our strongest guarantee of quality, from field to table.”
According to Athimon, another factor that makes Montosa’s mangoes highly valued by European buyers is their local European origin and lower carbon footprint compared with mangoes from other sourcing regions. “These are European mangoes, and this is something that both distributors and end consumers are increasingly recognising,” he said.
France: key growth market
Driven by sustained growth over the past decade, mangoes have continued to gain importance in European consumers’ shopping baskets. Montosa aims to strengthen the fruit’s role within the company’s global business strategy, which also includes the production of avocados and fresh guacamole.
“The Spanish market continues to show strong demand, and an increasing number of households are buying tropical fruit on a regular basis. However, our main growth driver is France, a market with significant commercial potential where customers have very high-quality expectations,” Athimon noted.
In addition to France, the company maintains established export programmes with Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Switzerland.
