Axarquia and Costa Tropical, main producers of mangos in Europe

THE Axarquia area and the Costa Tropical have become the main producers of mangos in Europe.

The harvest has just begun, and farmers are hoping that this year’s crop will be the best yet, and could even double the 11,000 tonnes collected last year.

The Young Farmers’ Association specialist in fruit and vegetables, Benjamin Fauli said “there have been no problems with the climate or any plagues, so the harvest will be well above 15,000 tonnes.”

There is also an excellent market for the fruit, especially as Brazil, one of the main competitors, will have less mangos to export to Europe because they will first have to deal with the increasing demand for the fruit within the country as well as in the United States, “that will benefit Malaga producers because demand will grow within Europe” Fauli explained.

The main markets for the fruit are France, Germany and the United Kingdom, which receive mangos from the Axarquia and benefit from the fact that they spend less time in transit and can be picked at the best time.

Mangos are taking the place of avocados as the most profitable fruit to grow in the Axarquia area, mainly because although the price obtained, between €1.2 and €1.4, is similar, a mango tree produces double the fruit.

Photo credit: Jordan Sim