Western Australia’s southern mango growers have lost nearly a quarter of their crop due to sunburn. The mango plantations just north of Perth were experiencing good growing conditions until a period of 42-degree days damaged the fruit.
Southern Mango Growers Association president Tony Maddern says he has just started picking his fruit and estimates the damage has cost about $40,000.
“Well, it is edible but it means you’ve got to cut a fair portion of it out, which people don’t want to do, so unfortunately most of that will probably go to pig food.”
Despite the crop losses, Mr Maddern says he expects good prices of about $45 per tray when the mangoes hit the floor of the Canningvale markets this week.
A tray of mangoes is approximately seven kilograms, comprising about 16 pieces of fruit. Mr Maddern says unfavourable mango growing conditions in the north of the state around Kununurra have driven prices up this season.
Source: ABC.net