Get the low-down on Mangoes

Find out where Australian mangoes are grown, the many different varieties available, and when they are in season.

Where Grown

Mango production in Australia

Mangoes are grown commercially throughout northern Australia. Annual production was 60,000 metric tonnes (including export and processing fruit) in 2002/03. Of this volume, 7 million trays (7kg/tray) went to the fresh market, and the remainder to export and processing. Estimated value of production is $100M.

Production regions include Gin Gin, Carnarvon and Kununurra in Western Australia; Darwin and Katherine in the Northern Territory; Mareeba / Dimbulah, the Burdekin, Bowen, Rockhampton / Yeppoon, Bundaberg, Gympie and the Lockyer Valley in Queensland; and northern New South Wales.

Mangoes are to an extent biennial bearers of fruit, although the production trend for the Australian industry is estimated to be increasing at approximately 8% per year.

Seasonality/Varieties

It's that wonderful time of the year, when the mango season is well underway in Australia, and mangoes are throwing off a sweet, luscious aroma in the shopping aisle.

What many people don't realise is that there are a number of different varieties of mangoes - and the early season varieties are just as sweet and tasty as their late season counterparts!

The mango season runs from late September to April, and during this time you can enjoy various varieties of mangoes.

The main variety you will find early in the season is the Kensington Pride, which is also known as the Bowen and has a sweet tangy flavour with an orange to red blush. The R2E2 is another popular early season variety, with a deep, orange-red blush and long shelf life.

A newer variety also available early in the season is the Calypso, which has a particularly firm flesh, with a deep orange blush and a full, sweet flavour.

Later in the season, newer varieties of mangoes you'll find include the Honeygold, Which is a brilliant golden apricot yellow with a firm, juicy flesh, and the Pearl, which has a lovely pearl-flecked skin and firm, sweet flesh, making it a great no-mess fruit to work with in the kitchen.

The table below will let you know when the mango varieties will be available throughout the season.

Harvest seasons for principal production regions