Darwin mango industry booming after strong season

Darwin mango growers have defied fires and dry conditions to record a record haul this year

Jeremy Knox from Quality Mangoes is impressed with this year’s crop. Picture KATRINA BRIDGEFORD.

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Darwin mango growers have defied fires and dry conditions to record a record haul this year.

Three million trays – or 21 million kg of mangoes – have been harvested since July.

That’s an increase on last year’s haul of 2.2 million trays, with growers saying an early start to the harvest partly responsible for the huge season.

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Quality Mangoes salesman Jeremy Knox said the quantity didn’t compromise the fruit’s quality, which should be good up until Christmas.

“It’s extremely important for us to have had a good year,” he said.

“With the dry weather that happened this year we were a bit worried but it ended up being a pretty good season for us.”

Australian Mango Industry Association chief executive Robert Gray said the haul of mangoes would only grow in years to come.

“As plantings of multiple varieties have matured, this has also contributed to the increase in supply,” he said.

“Next season we expect this volume will grow even further, as more plantings reach maturity.”