PMA around
the Americas

Ecuador:

More than Bananas

An increasingly important source of mangos.

By Nancy Tucker
NTucker@pma.com

Ecuador was a land of many indigenous Indian tribes that often warred with each other prior to its conquest by the Incan Empire in 1463. In the early 16th century, the Spanish discovered and subsequently conquered Ecuador and ruled over it for much of the following two centuries. A long and often bloody struggle for independence achieved its goal in 1830.

overall production,more of their crop is consumed domestically, leaving Ecuador as the largest exporter. While Ecuador might be best known as a major banana exporting country, it is an important source of mangos for North America. The majority of mango imports into the U.S. come from Mexico (just over 60%), but Peru and Ecuador are, respectively, the second and third most important exporting countries of this delicious fruit.

Mango size ranges from . 5 to 1.5
pounds depending on the market.

Ecuador began growing mangos for export in 1989, introducing popular varieties from Florida. After years of exploration and research as to which varieties would be most successful on the export market, 60% of the fields now grow Tommy Atkins, 23% grow the Kent variety, 13% Haden, and 4% Keitts and Ataulfos. Currently the country has nearly 20,000 acres of mangos distributed over three main areas: North (Palestina and Balzar), Central (Isidro Ayora, Pedro Carbo and Lomas de Sargentillo) and West (Chongon and Cerecita).

The exports of these varieties have been growing steadily. From 2003 to today, the country has achieved

export increases of 10% each year. During the 2007–2008 season, 11 MM boxes were shipped.

The U.S. is the key market for Ecuadorian mangos. As much as 70% of the product is shipped to Miami, New York and Los Angeles. The remaining share is shipped to Mexico, Canada and Europe. Mangos are shipped in corrugated cardboard boxes holding between 6 to 16 pieces, according to size. Sizes of fresh mangos range from . 5 to 1.5 pounds depending on the market.

1
Increasingly productive trees.
Mango trees become more
productive as they grow older and the
average mango tree in Ecuador is
now about 12 years old.
Significant investments have
been made in field technology,

especially during the past five years.

2

Photo courtesy of the National Mango Board.

Two key factors for
growth in mango exports

Modern day Ecuador has its political center in the capital city of Quito while Guayaquil is the commercial heart of the country. The Galapagos Islands, about 600 miles to the west of the country, are actually a territory of Ecuador.

Throughout the history of the country, agriculture has played an important part. Ecuador entered the banana trade in 1910, but did not become a significant exporter until after World War II. It is now the world’s largest exporter of this staple fruit. Even though India, Brazil, and China may have greater