Early start for mangoes

Cold weather speeds flowering process

MANGO growers in the Far North are seeing the first signs of this year’s season with recent cold weather prompting early flowering.

Biboohra farmer and FNQ Growers president Joe Moro has noticed the first batch of flowering on his trees about one month earlier than usual.

“Traditionally the mango season flowering up here is just starting to happen around rodeo time (mid-July), so this is probably a fraction early,” he said.

“It looks like there’s some early movement, but early days yet.

“It looks like this cold weather is a big benefit from a mango farmer’s point of view.

“The tropicals generally enjoy the cold weather, it helps to initiate the flower.

“It’s the dollar that sets the tone of the season … but from a consumer point of view, these conditions are generally very good.”

There have also been regrowers ports of trees in the Dimbulah area already in flower with crops there traditionally ahead of Mareeba and Biboohra.

Mr Moro said growers on the Mareeba/Dimbulah irrigation scheme were feeling confident going into the season after SunWater predicted water allocations 2018-19 had on 100 per cent supply as of July 1. This comes after above average production for the 2017/2018 mango season.

Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) chief executive officer Robert Gray said, while rainfall was low in the Far North last season, suppliers had adequate access to irrigation

But, he said, one of the only downfalls to the season was mango prices.

“Overall retail pricing was down slightly (ie less than 10 per cent) but more than made up for with the 24 per cent increase in total volume,” Mr Gray said.

“There were periods where prices were lower and this did occur predominantly in the December period where there was the greatest overlap in supply between NT, Bowen/ Burdekin and Mareeba.”

Mr Gray said growers were feeling generally positive about the season ahead with a key focus on growing markets and continually focusing on improving quality.