Honey Gold mangoes have hit the supermarket shelves on the east coast. Despite a lighter season than usual, Piñata Farms will continue to harvest the premium fruit through March.
Piñata Farms General Manager Tropicals Stephen Scurr says volumes are low in all growing regions due to warmer conditions than required during the crucial winter bloom.
"The volume has decreased significantly compared to last season and the average previous seasons," he says, adding that most of the Australian mango varieties have been affected this season.
"We have simply not achieved the consistently cool nights necessary for good flowering in any mango-growing region – nor have any other grower in Northern Australia."
Harvest plan
Honey Gold mangoes are produced in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia on Piñata's own farms and those of around 30 contract farmers.
Night picking of the specialty began in the Northern Territory on November 2nd and harvest in Queensland is expected to begin this month.
Queensland growers produce nearly 70 percent of the total Honey Gold crop. Growing areas in Queensland include Bowen, Giru, Mareeba, Mutchilba, Yeppoon, Benaraby, Yarwun, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Childers, Mundubbera and Narangba.
Once harvested and packaged, Piñata Farms transports the mangoes to capital cities to ripen and distribute to leading retail customers across Australia.
Mr. Scurr says the quality and size of the honey gold harvest this season are "as good as always and in line with consumer expectations".
Honey gold at a glance
The Honey Gold variety was founded in the 1990s by the late Noel Sammon in Rockhampton, Central Queensland. It's a cross between a Kensington Pride and an unknown guy. The original tree continues to produce a crop.
As with mangoes, Honey Golds have a small seed-to-high pulp ratio and the pulp is fiberless. Honey Gold Mangos have a yellow-orange shiny skin and an intense, powerful, unmistakable taste. Its taste is said to be similar to honey, hence its name.
