Update on Our Next Philippine Carabao Mango Shipment đźĄ
One of the questions we are being asked most often is:
“When is the next shipment of Philippine Carabao mangoes arriving in Australia?”
We previously announced that we were planning another shipment for September.
Unfortunately, after checking the available crops with our growers and suppliers in the Philippines, we have decided not to proceed with the September shipment.
Our earliest target for the next shipment is now December, subject to weather and the actual volume and quality of the harvest.
Why Has the September Shipment Changed?
There are mangoes in the Philippines, but that does not mean there are enough mangoes suitable for export to Australia.
For a shipment to proceed, we need sufficient fruit that:
has good appearance and eating quality;
can withstand treatment, air freight and distribution;
meets Australian biosecurity requirements; and
complies with Australian food and chemical-residue standards.
Once all these requirements are considered, the amount of mangoes available for Australia becomes much smaller.
Rain Affects the Crop Before Harvest
A mango crop begins with flowering. The flowers develop into small fruits, which then need several months to grow before harvest.
Rain and high humidity can affect flowering and young fruit. Wet conditions can also increase fungal disease pressure and cause more fruit to develop damage that prevents it from reaching export quality.
The trees may still carry mangoes, but fewer of those mangoes will pass export selection.
This is currently affecting the volume available to us from Luzon and the Visayas.
What About Mangoes From Mindanao?
Mangoes are available in parts of Mindanao, including the Davao region.
However, much of the suitable commercial crop has already been contracted by other buyers. The remaining fruit available to us does not provide enough qualifying volume for a viable shipment.
Availability is also only part of the requirement. The fruit must still meet Australian standards.
Australian Maximum Residue Limits
Mango growers sometimes need to use insecticides and fungicides to protect the crop from pests and diseases.
Australia sets limits on the amount of agricultural chemical residue legally allowed in food sold here. These are called Maximum Residue Limits, or MRLs.
The chemicals used, the amount applied and the timing before harvest can all affect whether the fruit meets these limits.
This means mangoes may be suitable for sale in the Philippines but may not necessarily qualify for export to Australia.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand explains that MRLs apply to food sold in Australia, whether it is produced locally or imported. Australia’s Department of Agriculture also monitors imported food for compliance with national food standards, including MRLs.
Why We Will Not Ship in September
After considering the effects of recent rain, the limited uncommitted supply from Mindanao and Australia’s import requirements, we could not secure enough export-standard mangoes for September.
We would rather wait for the next suitable harvest than proceed with a shipment that does not meet the quality our customers expect.
Our Next Target Is December
We are already working with our contracted growers on their next production cycle.
Based on their current flowering and crop schedules, December is the earliest period when they expect to produce a suitable volume.
December remains a target rather than a confirmed shipment date. Weather, fruit development and final crop quality will still determine whether the shipment can proceed.
We will announce the confirmed schedule through our Facebook page and website at carabaomango.au once we are satisfied that enough suitable fruit is available.
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