A PLENTIFUL supply of quality mangoes is expected this summer, despite growers enduring everything Mother Nature had to throw at them.
From extreme heat to monsoonal rain and damaging hail, Australia's largest growers of Kensington Pride mangoes, Manbulloo, has forged ahead to provide an abundance of tropical fruit.
Manbulloo managing director Marie Piccone said the company's seven farms, which are spread between the Northern Territory, the Townsville region and the Atherton Tableland were still turning out quality fruit, and a variety of exciting new products.
Ms Piccone started Manbulloo in 2005 with the acquisition of three farms, at Katherine, Horseshoe Lagoon, and Laudham Park in the Townsville region.
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The operation expanded in 2014-15 with the purchase of four more farms, another in the Northern Territory and three on the Atherton Tableland.
They now have 125,000 trees which bear fruit from mid-September, right up until March.
"We are the largest grower of Kensington Prides and one of the largest growers of R2s in Australia. We produce millions of mangoes every year," Ms Piccone said.
"The extreme weather events have been challenging so we've had to really manage our risk with heatwaves, storms. We had frost and hail on the Atherton Tableland."
Ms Piccone said the company would meet their contracts as the base mango supplier for Coles and for their select export markets in South Korea, China, the US and Canada.
The company launched new products this year, including the Arriba R2 variety with Coles.
"They are big, luscious, beautiful mangoes and they are getting great acceptance."
Ms Piccone said providing a quality eating experience was at the forefront of their operation.
"At Manbulloo we create lots of happy summer experiences for Australian mango lovers. We are encouraging people to make sure they know what they're buying and stick to their commitment to flavour."
